diff --git a/.envrc b/.envrc
index 5b205a86cf..57cf4c4159 100644
--- a/.envrc
+++ b/.envrc
@@ -47,17 +47,35 @@ if [ -z "$GOPATH" ]; then
 fi
 
 AKASH_ROOT=$(pwd)
-
 export AKASH_ROOT
 
 dotenv
 dotenv_if_exists dev.env
 
+TOOLS=${AKASH_ROOT}/script/tools.sh
+SEMVER=${AKASH_ROOT}/script/semver.sh
+
+GOTOOLCHAIN=$(${TOOLS} gotoolchain)
+GOTOOLCHAIN_SEMVER=$(echo "${GOTOOLCHAIN}" | sed 's/go*/v/' | tr -d '\n')
+
+if [[ "$OSTYPE" == "darwin"* ]]; then
+    # on MacOS disable deprecation warnings security framework
+    CGO_CFLAGS=-Wno-deprecated-declarations
+
+    export CGO_CFLAGS
+fi
+
+export SEMVER
+export GOTOOLCHAIN
+export GOTOOLCHAIN_SEMVER
+
 PATH_add "$AKASH_DEVCACHE_NODE_BIN"
 PATH_add "$AKASH_DEVCACHE_BIN"
 
+AKASH_DIRENV_SET=1
 AKASH=$AKASH_DEVCACHE_BIN/akash
 
+export AKASH_DIRENV_SET
 export AKASH
 
 make cache
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yaml b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
index aeb5b7ab83..896563025e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
@@ -13,9 +13,9 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - run: git fetch --prune --unshallow
-      - run: |
-          toolchain=$(cat go.mod | grep toolchain | cut -d ' ' -f 2 | sed 's/go*//')
-          echo "GOTOOLCHAIN=go${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+      - name: Detect required Go version
+        run: |
+          toolchain=$(./script/tools.sh gotoolchain | sed 's/go*//')
           echo "GOVERSION=${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
       - uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
@@ -50,9 +50,9 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - run: git fetch --prune --unshallow
-      - run: |
-          toolchain=$(cat go.mod | grep toolchain | cut -d ' ' -f 2 | sed 's/go*//')
-          echo "GOTOOLCHAIN=go${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+      - name: Detect required Go version
+        run: |
+          toolchain=$(./script/tools.sh gotoolchain | sed 's/go*//')
           echo "GOVERSION=${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
       - uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/tests.yaml
index a73f761974..3d0f7010c9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yaml
@@ -18,29 +18,32 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: macos-latest
     steps:
       - run: |
-          brew install bash direnv
+          brew install bash
           sudo chsh -s /usr/local/bin/bash
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - run: git fetch --prune --unshallow
-      - name: set environment
-        run: direnv allow
-      - run: |
-          toolchain=$(cat go.mod | grep toolchain | cut -d ' ' -f 2 | sed 's/go*//')
-          echo "GOTOOLCHAIN=go${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+      - name: Detect required Go version
+        run: |
+          toolchain=$(./script/tools.sh gotoolchain | sed 's/go*//')
           echo "GOVERSION=${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
       - uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
           go-version: "${{ env.GOVERSION }}"
           check-latest: true
+      - name: Install and setup direnv
+        run: |
+          curl -sfL https://direnv.net/install.sh | bash
+          direnv allow
+          direnv export gha >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
       - run: make bins
   build-bins:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - run: git fetch --prune --unshallow
-      - run: |
-          toolchain=$(cat go.mod | grep toolchain | cut -d ' ' -f 2 | sed 's/go*//')
-          echo "GOTOOLCHAIN=go${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+      - name: Detect required Go version
+        run: |
+          toolchain=$(./script/tools.sh gotoolchain | sed 's/go*//')
           echo "GOVERSION=${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
       - uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
@@ -56,9 +59,9 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - run: git fetch --prune --unshallow
-      - run: |
-          toolchain=$(cat go.mod | grep toolchain | cut -d ' ' -f 2 | sed 's/go*//')
-          echo "GOTOOLCHAIN=go${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+      - name: Detect required Go version
+        run: |
+          toolchain=$(./script/tools.sh gotoolchain | sed 's/go*//')
           echo "GOVERSION=${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
       - uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
@@ -72,9 +75,9 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - run: git fetch --prune --unshallow
-      - run: |
-          toolchain=$(cat go.mod | grep toolchain | cut -d ' ' -f 2 | sed 's/go*//')
-          echo "GOTOOLCHAIN=go${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+      - name: Detect required Go version
+        run: |
+          toolchain=$(./script/tools.sh gotoolchain | sed 's/go*//')
           echo "GOVERSION=${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
       - uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
@@ -89,9 +92,9 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - run: git fetch --prune --unshallow
-      - run: |
-          toolchain=$(cat go.mod | grep toolchain | cut -d ' ' -f 2 | sed 's/go*//')
-          echo "GOTOOLCHAIN=go${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+      - name: Detect required Go version
+        run: |
+          toolchain=$(./script/tools.sh gotoolchain | sed 's/go*//')
           echo "GOVERSION=${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
       - uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
@@ -111,9 +114,9 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - run: git fetch --prune --unshallow
-      - run: |
-          toolchain=$(cat go.mod | grep toolchain | cut -d ' ' -f 2 | sed 's/go*//')
-          echo "GOTOOLCHAIN=go${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+      - name: Detect required Go version
+        run: |
+          toolchain=$(./script/tools.sh gotoolchain | sed 's/go*//')
           echo "GOVERSION=${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
       - uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
@@ -129,9 +132,9 @@ jobs:
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
-      - run: |
-          toolchain=$(cat go.mod | grep toolchain | cut -d ' ' -f 2 | sed 's/go*//')
-          echo "GOTOOLCHAIN=go${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+      - name: Detect required Go version
+        run: |
+          toolchain=$(./script/tools.sh gotoolchain | sed 's/go*//')
           echo "GOVERSION=${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
       - uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
@@ -152,9 +155,9 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - run: git fetch --prune --unshallow
-      - run: |
-          toolchain=$(cat go.mod | grep toolchain | cut -d ' ' -f 2 | sed 's/go*//')
-          echo "GOTOOLCHAIN=go${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+      - name: Detect required Go version
+        run: |
+          toolchain=$(./script/tools.sh gotoolchain | sed 's/go*//')
           echo "GOVERSION=${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
       - uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
@@ -178,9 +181,9 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - run: git fetch --prune --unshallow
-      - run: |
-          toolchain=$(cat go.mod | grep toolchain | cut -d ' ' -f 2 | sed 's/go*//')
-          echo "GOTOOLCHAIN=go${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+      - name: Detect required Go version
+        run: |
+          toolchain=$(./script/tools.sh gotoolchain | sed 's/go*//')
           echo "GOVERSION=${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
       - uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
@@ -205,9 +208,9 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
       - run: git fetch --prune --unshallow
-      - run: |
-          toolchain=$(cat go.mod | grep toolchain | cut -d ' ' -f 2 | sed 's/go*//')
-          echo "GOTOOLCHAIN=go${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+      - name: Detect required Go version
+        run: |
+          toolchain=$(./script/tools.sh gotoolchain | sed 's/go*//')
           echo "GOVERSION=${toolchain}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
       - uses: actions/setup-go@v4
         with:
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index e0af349257..c448233dc2 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 module github.com/akash-network/node
 
-go 1.20
-
-toolchain go1.21.0
+go 1.21
 
 require (
 	github.com/akash-network/akash-api v0.0.27
diff --git a/make/init.mk b/make/init.mk
index 129242be11..4a012c02e7 100644
--- a/make/init.mk
+++ b/make/init.mk
@@ -7,33 +7,24 @@ UNAME_ARCH            := $(shell uname -m)
 BASH_PATH := $(shell which bash)
 
 ifeq (, $(shell which direnv))
-$(warning "No direnv in $(PATH), consider installing. https://direnv.net")
+$(error "No direnv in $(PATH), consider installing. https://direnv.net")
+endif
+
+ifneq (1, $(AKASH_DIRENV_SET))
+$(error "no envrc detected. might need to run \"direnv allow\"")
 endif
 
 # AKASH_ROOT may not be set if environment does not support/use direnv
 # in this case define it manually as well as all required env variables
 ifndef AKASH_ROOT
-	AKASH_ROOT := $(abspath $(dir $(lastword $(MAKEFILE_LIST)))/../)
-	include $(AKASH_ROOT)/.env
-
-	AKASH               := $(AKASH_DEVCACHE_BIN)/akash
-	# setup .cache bins first in paths to have precedence over already installed same tools for system wide use
-	PATH                := $(AKASH_DEVCACHE_BIN):$(AKASH_DEVCACHE_NODE_BIN):$(PATH)
+$(error "AKASH_ROOT is not set. might need to run \"direnv allow\"")
 endif
 
-BINS                         := $(AKASH)
-SEMVER                       := $(AKASH_ROOT)/script/semver.sh
-
-__local_go                   := $(shell GOTOOLCHAIN=local go version | cut -d ' ' -f 3 | sed 's/go*//' | tr -d '\n')
-__is_local_go_satisfies      := $(shell $(SEMVER) compare "v$(__local_go)" "v1.20.7"; echo $?)
-
-ifeq (-1, $(__is_local_go_satisfies))
-$(error "unsupported local go$(__local_go) version . min required go1.21.0")
+ifeq (, $(GOTOOLCHAIN))
+$(error "GOTOOLCHAIN is not set")
 endif
 
-GO_VERSION                   := $(shell go mod edit -json | jq -r .Go | tr -d '\n')
-GOTOOLCHAIN                  := $(shell go mod edit -json | jq -r .Toolchain | tr -d '\n')
-GOTOOLCHAIN_SEMVER           := v$(shell echo "$(GOTOOLCHAIN)" | sed 's/go*//' | tr -d '\n')
+BINS                         := $(AKASH)
 
 GO                           := GO111MODULE=$(GO111MODULE) go
 GOWORK                       ?= on
@@ -53,21 +44,6 @@ else
 	DETECTED_OS := $(shell sh -c 'uname 2>/dev/null || echo Unknown')
 endif
 
-ifeq ($(DETECTED_OS), Darwin)
-	# on MacOS disable deprecation warnings security framework
-	export CGO_CFLAGS=-Wno-deprecated-declarations
-
-	# on MacOS Sonoma Beta there is a bit of discrepancy between Go and new prime linker
-	clang_version := $(shell echo | clang -dM -E - | grep __clang_major__ | cut -d ' ' -f 3 | tr -d '\n')
-	go_has_ld_fix := $(shell $(SEMVER) compare "$(GOTOOLCHAIN_SEMVER)" "v1.22.0" | tr -d '\n')
-
-	ifeq (15,$(clang_version))
-		ifeq (-1,$(go_has_ld_fix))
-			export CGO_LDFLAGS=-Wl,-ld_classic -Wno-deprecated-declarations
-		endif
-	endif
-endif
-
 # ==== Build tools versions ====
 # Format <TOOL>_VERSION
 GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION        ?= v1.51.2
diff --git a/script/tools.sh b/script/tools.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..599e1a0ec9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/script/tools.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" >/dev/null 2>&1 && pwd)"
+SEMVER=$SCRIPT_DIR/semver.sh
+
+gomod="$SCRIPT_DIR/../go.mod"
+
+function get_gotoolchain() {
+    local gotoolchain
+    local goversion
+
+    gotoolchain=$(grep -E '^toolchain go[0-9]{1,}.[0-9]{1,}.[0-9]{1,}$' < "$gomod" | cut -d ' ' -f 2 | tr -d '\n')
+
+    if [[ ${gotoolchain} == "" ]]; then
+        # determine go toolchain from go version in go.mod
+        if which go > /dev/null 2>&1 ; then
+            goversion=$(GOTOOLCHAIN=local go version | cut -d ' ' -f 3 | sed 's/go*//' | tr -d '\n')
+        fi
+
+        if [[ $goversion != "" ]] && [[ $($SEMVER compare "v$goversion" v1.21.0) -ge 0 ]]; then
+            gotoolchain=go${goversion}
+        else
+            gotoolchain=go$(grep -E '^go [0-9]{1,}.[0-9]{1,}$' < "$gomod" | cut -d ' ' -f 2 | tr -d '\n').0
+        fi
+    fi
+
+    echo -n "$gotoolchain"
+}
+
+case "$1" in
+gotoolchain)
+    get_gotoolchain
+    ;;
+esac