diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 477567d..c35c0a3 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -13,7 +13,11 @@ endif
 
 DATE := $(shell date '+%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S')
 HEAD = $(shell git rev-parse HEAD)
-LD_FLAGS = -X main.SpawnVersion=$(VERSION)
+# MacOS sequoia + XCode 16 causes the binary to instantly die
+# Stripping the debug info with -s -w fixes this so the binary
+# is properly signed
+# ref: https://github.com/rollchains/spawn/issues/248
+LD_FLAGS = -X main.SpawnVersion=$(VERSION) -s -w
 BUILD_FLAGS = -mod=readonly -ldflags='$(LD_FLAGS)'
 
 ## mod-tidy: go mod tidy spawn, simapp, and interchaintest with proper go.mod suffixes
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0734af8..61aee17 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -38,6 +38,14 @@ make get-localic
 # Attempt to run a command
 spawn help
 
+# Potential workaround if spawn is immediately killed when attempting run "spawn help" on a m* macbook. 
+# This may happen because of an xcode16 update.
+# To work around this as a temporary measure please change this line in the Make file. 
+LD_FLAGS = -X main.SpawnVersion=$(VERSION)
+# to 
+LD_FLAGS = -X main.SpawnVersion=$(VERSION) -s -w
+
+
 # If you get "command 'spawn' not found", add to path.
 # Run the following in your terminal to test
 # Then add to ~/.bashrc (linux / windows) or ~/.zshrc (mac)
diff --git a/simapp/Makefile b/simapp/Makefile
index 6ae5170..d380edc 100644
--- a/simapp/Makefile
+++ b/simapp/Makefile
@@ -62,11 +62,14 @@ build_tags_comma_sep := $(subst $(empty),$(comma),$(build_tags))
 
 # process linker flags
 
+# flags '-s -w' resolves an issue with xcode 16 and signing of go binaries
+# ref: https://github.com/golang/go/issues/63997
 ldflags = -X github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/version.Name=wasm \
 		  -X github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/version.AppName=wasmd \
 		  -X github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/version.Version=$(VERSION) \
 		  -X github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/version.Commit=$(COMMIT) \
-		  -X "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/version.BuildTags=$(build_tags_comma_sep)"
+		  -X "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/version.BuildTags=$(build_tags_comma_sep)" \
+		  -s -w
 
 ifeq ($(WITH_CLEVELDB),yes)
   ldflags += -X github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types.DBBackend=cleveldb