diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e26d15caed31..63226c53c871 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -248,6 +248,7 @@ to detail this new feature and how state transitions occur.
 
 ### Bug Fixes
 
+* (x/genutil) [\#5499](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/) Ensure `DefaultGenesis` returns valid and non-nil default genesis state.
 * (client) [\#5303](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/issues/5303) Fix ignored error in tx generate only mode.
 * (cli) [\#4763](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/issues/4763) Fix flag `--min-self-delegation` for staking `EditValidator`
 * (keys) Fix ledger custom coin type support bug
diff --git a/x/auth/module.go b/x/auth/module.go
index 510f4304d7c5..d3cf501e4f04 100644
--- a/x/auth/module.go
+++ b/x/auth/module.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package auth
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 	"math/rand"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
@@ -47,10 +48,10 @@ func (AppModuleBasic) DefaultGenesis() json.RawMessage {
 // ValidateGenesis performs genesis state validation for the auth module.
 func (AppModuleBasic) ValidateGenesis(bz json.RawMessage) error {
 	var data types.GenesisState
-	err := types.ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &data)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	if err := types.ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &data); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to unmarshal %s genesis state: %w", types.ModuleName, err)
 	}
+
 	return types.ValidateGenesis(data)
 }
 
diff --git a/x/bank/module.go b/x/bank/module.go
index 0430d18f1550..114962382758 100644
--- a/x/bank/module.go
+++ b/x/bank/module.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package bank
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 	"math/rand"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
@@ -45,10 +46,10 @@ func (AppModuleBasic) DefaultGenesis() json.RawMessage {
 // ValidateGenesis performs genesis state validation for the bank module.
 func (AppModuleBasic) ValidateGenesis(bz json.RawMessage) error {
 	var data GenesisState
-	err := ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &data)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	if err := ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &data); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to unmarshal %s genesis state: %w", ModuleName, err)
 	}
+
 	return ValidateGenesis(data)
 }
 
diff --git a/x/crisis/module.go b/x/crisis/module.go
index 4318c516cea8..1885f69ade9f 100644
--- a/x/crisis/module.go
+++ b/x/crisis/module.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package crisis
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -45,8 +46,9 @@ func (AppModuleBasic) DefaultGenesis() json.RawMessage {
 func (AppModuleBasic) ValidateGenesis(bz json.RawMessage) error {
 	var data types.GenesisState
 	if err := types.ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &data); err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to unmarshal %s genesis state: %w", ModuleName, err)
 	}
+
 	return types.ValidateGenesis(data)
 }
 
diff --git a/x/distribution/module.go b/x/distribution/module.go
index c0452ebb3c6b..0b143d6478b8 100644
--- a/x/distribution/module.go
+++ b/x/distribution/module.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package distribution
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 	"math/rand"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
@@ -49,10 +50,10 @@ func (AppModuleBasic) DefaultGenesis() json.RawMessage {
 // ValidateGenesis performs genesis state validation for the distribution module.
 func (AppModuleBasic) ValidateGenesis(bz json.RawMessage) error {
 	var data GenesisState
-	err := ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &data)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	if err := ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &data); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to unmarshal %s genesis state: %w", ModuleName, err)
 	}
+
 	return ValidateGenesis(data)
 }
 
diff --git a/x/evidence/module.go b/x/evidence/module.go
index aa4129469dab..30b427a95c1d 100644
--- a/x/evidence/module.go
+++ b/x/evidence/module.go
@@ -58,8 +58,7 @@ func (AppModuleBasic) DefaultGenesis() json.RawMessage {
 // ValidateGenesis performs genesis state validation for the evidence module.
 func (AppModuleBasic) ValidateGenesis(bz json.RawMessage) error {
 	var gs GenesisState
-	err := ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &gs)
-	if err != nil {
+	if err := ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &gs); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to unmarshal %s genesis state: %w", ModuleName, err)
 	}
 
diff --git a/x/genutil/client/cli/validate_genesis.go b/x/genutil/client/cli/validate_genesis.go
index f4baa5dc9df3..6be33bdabf09 100644
--- a/x/genutil/client/cli/validate_genesis.go
+++ b/x/genutil/client/cli/validate_genesis.go
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ func ValidateGenesisCmd(ctx *server.Context, cdc *codec.Codec, mbm module.BasicM
 
 			var genState map[string]json.RawMessage
 			if err = cdc.UnmarshalJSON(genDoc.AppState, &genState); err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("error unmarshaling genesis doc %s: %s", genesis, err.Error())
+				return fmt.Errorf("error unmarshalling genesis doc %s: %s", genesis, err.Error())
 			}
 
 			if err = mbm.ValidateGenesis(genState); err != nil {
diff --git a/x/genutil/genesis.go b/x/genutil/genesis.go
index c1a06a8b9aff..c8564bdc4e2d 100644
--- a/x/genutil/genesis.go
+++ b/x/genutil/genesis.go
@@ -9,12 +9,15 @@ import (
 )
 
 // InitGenesis - initialize accounts and deliver genesis transactions
-func InitGenesis(ctx sdk.Context, cdc *codec.Codec, stakingKeeper types.StakingKeeper,
-	deliverTx deliverTxfn, genesisState GenesisState) []abci.ValidatorUpdate {
+func InitGenesis(
+	ctx sdk.Context, cdc *codec.Codec, stakingKeeper types.StakingKeeper,
+	deliverTx deliverTxfn, genesisState GenesisState,
+) []abci.ValidatorUpdate {
 
 	var validators []abci.ValidatorUpdate
 	if len(genesisState.GenTxs) > 0 {
 		validators = DeliverGenTxs(ctx, cdc, genesisState.GenTxs, stakingKeeper, deliverTx)
 	}
+
 	return validators
 }
diff --git a/x/genutil/module.go b/x/genutil/module.go
index 8d8f296ae1c9..31ca1b463523 100644
--- a/x/genutil/module.go
+++ b/x/genutil/module.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package genutil
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -34,16 +35,16 @@ func (AppModuleBasic) RegisterCodec(cdc *codec.Codec) {}
 // DefaultGenesis returns default genesis state as raw bytes for the genutil
 // module.
 func (AppModuleBasic) DefaultGenesis() json.RawMessage {
-	return ModuleCdc.MustMarshalJSON(GenesisState{})
+	return ModuleCdc.MustMarshalJSON(types.DefaultGenesisState())
 }
 
 // ValidateGenesis performs genesis state validation for the genutil module.
 func (AppModuleBasic) ValidateGenesis(bz json.RawMessage) error {
 	var data GenesisState
-	err := ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &data)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	if err := ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &data); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to unmarshal %s genesis state: %w", ModuleName, err)
 	}
+
 	return ValidateGenesis(data)
 }
 
diff --git a/x/genutil/types/genesis_state.go b/x/genutil/types/genesis_state.go
index e568bb42076a..1303ee82ca4b 100644
--- a/x/genutil/types/genesis_state.go
+++ b/x/genutil/types/genesis_state.go
@@ -25,6 +25,13 @@ func NewGenesisState(genTxs []json.RawMessage) GenesisState {
 	}
 }
 
+// DefaultGenesisState returns the genutil module's default genesis state.
+func DefaultGenesisState() GenesisState {
+	return GenesisState{
+		GenTxs: []json.RawMessage{},
+	}
+}
+
 // NewGenesisStateFromStdTx creates a new GenesisState object
 // from auth transactions
 func NewGenesisStateFromStdTx(genTxs []authtypes.StdTx) GenesisState {
diff --git a/x/gov/module.go b/x/gov/module.go
index 1ef3a8c0f5cf..7ad5ecbc0ace 100644
--- a/x/gov/module.go
+++ b/x/gov/module.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ package gov
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 	"math/rand"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
@@ -60,10 +61,10 @@ func (AppModuleBasic) DefaultGenesis() json.RawMessage {
 // ValidateGenesis performs genesis state validation for the gov module.
 func (AppModuleBasic) ValidateGenesis(bz json.RawMessage) error {
 	var data GenesisState
-	err := ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &data)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	if err := ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &data); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to unmarshal %s genesis state: %w", types.ModuleName, err)
 	}
+
 	return ValidateGenesis(data)
 }
 
diff --git a/x/mint/module.go b/x/mint/module.go
index f0e36e1693d7..95b171251ee1 100644
--- a/x/mint/module.go
+++ b/x/mint/module.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package mint
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 	"math/rand"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
@@ -47,10 +48,10 @@ func (AppModuleBasic) DefaultGenesis() json.RawMessage {
 // ValidateGenesis performs genesis state validation for the mint module.
 func (AppModuleBasic) ValidateGenesis(bz json.RawMessage) error {
 	var data GenesisState
-	err := ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &data)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	if err := ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &data); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to unmarshal %s genesis state: %w", ModuleName, err)
 	}
+
 	return ValidateGenesis(data)
 }
 
diff --git a/x/slashing/module.go b/x/slashing/module.go
index 47d15cf89937..e99b421574fe 100644
--- a/x/slashing/module.go
+++ b/x/slashing/module.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package slashing
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 	"math/rand"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
@@ -51,10 +52,10 @@ func (AppModuleBasic) DefaultGenesis() json.RawMessage {
 // ValidateGenesis performs genesis state validation for the slashing module.
 func (AppModuleBasic) ValidateGenesis(bz json.RawMessage) error {
 	var data GenesisState
-	err := ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &data)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	if err := ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &data); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to unmarshal %s genesis state: %w", types.ModuleName, err)
 	}
+
 	return ValidateGenesis(data)
 }
 
diff --git a/x/staking/module.go b/x/staking/module.go
index 69a8cb940504..0f39343af843 100644
--- a/x/staking/module.go
+++ b/x/staking/module.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package staking
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 	"math/rand"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
@@ -54,10 +55,10 @@ func (AppModuleBasic) DefaultGenesis() json.RawMessage {
 // ValidateGenesis performs genesis state validation for the staking module.
 func (AppModuleBasic) ValidateGenesis(bz json.RawMessage) error {
 	var data GenesisState
-	err := ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &data)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	if err := ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &data); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to unmarshal %s genesis state: %w", ModuleName, err)
 	}
+
 	return ValidateGenesis(data)
 }
 
diff --git a/x/supply/module.go b/x/supply/module.go
index 307b77865b36..f9e45322a99c 100644
--- a/x/supply/module.go
+++ b/x/supply/module.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package supply
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 	"math/rand"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
@@ -48,10 +49,10 @@ func (AppModuleBasic) DefaultGenesis() json.RawMessage {
 // ValidateGenesis performs genesis state validation for the supply module.
 func (AppModuleBasic) ValidateGenesis(bz json.RawMessage) error {
 	var data GenesisState
-	err := ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &data)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+	if err := ModuleCdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &data); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to unmarshal %s genesis state: %w", ModuleName, err)
 	}
+
 	return ValidateGenesis(data)
 }