diff --git a/src/universal-dapp.js b/src/universal-dapp.js
index d28fcc4d64..d771f429c9 100644
--- a/src/universal-dapp.js
+++ b/src/universal-dapp.js
@@ -635,7 +635,6 @@ UniversalDApp.prototype.runTx = function (data, args, cb) {
       from: self.options.getAddress ? self.options.getAddress() : self.web3.eth.accounts[0],
       to: to,
       data: data,
-      gas: gas,
       value: value
     };
     if (constant && !isConstructor) {
@@ -646,6 +645,10 @@ UniversalDApp.prototype.runTx = function (data, args, cb) {
           return cb(err, resp);
         }
 
+        if (resp > gas) {
+          return cb('Gas required exceeds limit: ' + resp);
+        }
+
         tx.gas = resp;
 
         self.web3.eth.sendTransaction(tx, function (err, resp) {