diff --git a/pkg/bee/api/files.go b/pkg/bee/api/files.go
index 881827983..bcae3cc34 100644
--- a/pkg/bee/api/files.go
+++ b/pkg/bee/api/files.go
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ func (f *FilesService) Upload(ctx context.Context, name string, data io.Reader,
 	if o.Tag != 0 {
 		header.Set(swarmTagHeader, strconv.FormatUint(o.Tag, 10))
 	}
+	if o.Direct {
+		header.Set(deferredUploadHeader, strconv.FormatBool(false))
+	}
 	header.Set(postageStampBatchHeader, o.BatchID)
 
 	err = f.client.requestWithHeader(ctx, http.MethodPost, "/"+apiVersion+"/bzz?"+url.QueryEscape("name="+name), header, data, &resp)
diff --git a/pkg/check/settlements/settlements.go b/pkg/check/settlements/settlements.go
index 1622f4789..ac22bbc5e 100644
--- a/pkg/check/settlements/settlements.go
+++ b/pkg/check/settlements/settlements.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func NewDefaultOptions() Options {
 		FileSize:           1 * 1024 * 1024, // 1mb
 		GasPrice:           "",
 		PostageAmount:      1,
-		PostageDepth:       16,
+		PostageDepth:       20,
 		PostageLabel:       "test-label",
 		Seed:               0,
 		Threshold:          10000000000000,
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ func (c *Check) Run(ctx context.Context, cluster orchestration.Cluster, opts int
 		}
 		c.logger.Infof("node %s: batch id %s", uNode, batchID)
 
-		if err := client.UploadFile(ctx, &file, api.UploadOptions{BatchID: batchID}); err != nil {
+		if err := client.UploadFile(ctx, &file, api.UploadOptions{BatchID: batchID, Direct: true}); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("node %s: %w", uNode, err)
 		}
 		c.logger.Infof("File %s uploaded successfully to node %s", file.Address().String(), overlays[uNode].String())