diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
index 8cac28400f1..c764ca0fd29 100644
--- a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ void BitcoinApplication::createPaymentServer()
 
 void BitcoinApplication::createOptionsModel(bool resetSettings)
 {
-    optionsModel = new OptionsModel(this, resetSettings);
+    optionsModel = new OptionsModel(node(), this, resetSettings);
 }
 
 void BitcoinApplication::createWindow(const NetworkStyle *networkStyle)
@@ -292,7 +292,6 @@ void BitcoinApplication::createNode(interfaces::Init& init)
 {
     assert(!m_node);
     m_node = init.makeNode();
-    if (optionsModel) optionsModel->setNode(*m_node);
     if (m_splash) m_splash->setNode(*m_node);
 }
 
@@ -633,6 +632,12 @@ int GuiMain(int argc, char* argv[])
     // Allow parameter interaction before we create the options model
     app.parameterSetup();
     GUIUtil::LogQtInfo();
+
+    if (gArgs.GetBoolArg("-splash", DEFAULT_SPLASHSCREEN) && !gArgs.GetBoolArg("-min", false))
+        app.createSplashScreen(networkStyle.data());
+
+    app.createNode(*init);
+
     // Load GUI settings from QSettings
     app.createOptionsModel(gArgs.GetBoolArg("-resetguisettings", false));
 
@@ -641,11 +646,6 @@ int GuiMain(int argc, char* argv[])
         app.InitPruneSetting(prune_MiB);
     }
 
-    if (gArgs.GetBoolArg("-splash", DEFAULT_SPLASHSCREEN) && !gArgs.GetBoolArg("-min", false))
-        app.createSplashScreen(networkStyle.data());
-
-    app.createNode(*init);
-
     int rv = EXIT_SUCCESS;
     try
     {
diff --git a/src/qt/optionsmodel.cpp b/src/qt/optionsmodel.cpp
index 40b9ed54833..e7c44c5cf34 100644
--- a/src/qt/optionsmodel.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/optionsmodel.cpp
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ const char *DEFAULT_GUI_PROXY_HOST = "127.0.0.1";
 
 static const QString GetDefaultProxyAddress();
 
-OptionsModel::OptionsModel(QObject *parent, bool resetSettings) :
-    QAbstractListModel(parent)
+OptionsModel::OptionsModel(interfaces::Node& node, QObject *parent, bool resetSettings) :
+    QAbstractListModel(parent), m_node{node}
 {
     Init(resetSettings);
 }
diff --git a/src/qt/optionsmodel.h b/src/qt/optionsmodel.h
index 510ebb5cfde..e109d724351 100644
--- a/src/qt/optionsmodel.h
+++ b/src/qt/optionsmodel.h
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class OptionsModel : public QAbstractListModel
     Q_OBJECT
 
 public:
-    explicit OptionsModel(QObject *parent = nullptr, bool resetSettings = false);
+    explicit OptionsModel(interfaces::Node& node, QObject *parent = nullptr, bool resetSettings = false);
 
     enum OptionID {
         StartAtStartup,         // bool
@@ -103,11 +103,10 @@ class OptionsModel : public QAbstractListModel
     void setRestartRequired(bool fRequired);
     bool isRestartRequired() const;
 
-    interfaces::Node& node() const { assert(m_node); return *m_node; }
-    void setNode(interfaces::Node& node) { assert(!m_node); m_node = &node; }
+    interfaces::Node& node() const { return m_node; }
 
 private:
-    interfaces::Node* m_node = nullptr;
+    interfaces::Node& m_node;
     /* Qt-only settings */
     bool m_show_tray_icon;
     bool fMinimizeToTray;
diff --git a/src/qt/test/addressbooktests.cpp b/src/qt/test/addressbooktests.cpp
index ba0e4c686f5..4093de5c028 100644
--- a/src/qt/test/addressbooktests.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/test/addressbooktests.cpp
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ void TestAddAddressesToSendBook(interfaces::Node& node)
 
     // Initialize relevant QT models.
     std::unique_ptr<const PlatformStyle> platformStyle(PlatformStyle::instantiate("other"));
-    OptionsModel optionsModel;
+    OptionsModel optionsModel(node);
     ClientModel clientModel(node, &optionsModel);
     WalletContext& context = *node.walletLoader().context();
     AddWallet(context, wallet);
diff --git a/src/qt/test/optiontests.cpp b/src/qt/test/optiontests.cpp
index 4a943a63435..2ef9230c598 100644
--- a/src/qt/test/optiontests.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/test/optiontests.cpp
@@ -13,8 +13,7 @@
 
 #include <univalue.h>
 
-//! Entry point for BitcoinApplication tests.
-void OptionTests::optionTests()
+void OptionTests::integerGetArgBug()
 {
     // Test regression https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/issues/24457. Ensure
     // that setting integer prune value doesn't cause an exception to be thrown
@@ -24,7 +23,7 @@ void OptionTests::optionTests()
         settings.rw_settings["prune"] = 3814;
     });
     gArgs.WriteSettingsFile();
-    OptionsModel{};
+    OptionsModel{m_node};
     gArgs.LockSettings([&](util::Settings& settings) {
         settings.rw_settings.erase("prune");
     });
@@ -49,7 +48,7 @@ void OptionTests::parametersInteraction()
     QSettings settings;
     settings.setValue("fListen", false);
 
-    OptionsModel{};
+    OptionsModel{m_node};
 
     const bool expected{false};
 
diff --git a/src/qt/test/optiontests.h b/src/qt/test/optiontests.h
index 39c1612c8f8..257a0b65bef 100644
--- a/src/qt/test/optiontests.h
+++ b/src/qt/test/optiontests.h
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class OptionTests : public QObject
     explicit OptionTests(interfaces::Node& node) : m_node(node) {}
 
 private Q_SLOTS:
-    void optionTests();
+    void integerGetArgBug();
     void parametersInteraction();
 
 private:
diff --git a/src/qt/test/wallettests.cpp b/src/qt/test/wallettests.cpp
index c4cd0f4cd17..fc87039d0fd 100644
--- a/src/qt/test/wallettests.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/test/wallettests.cpp
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ void TestGUI(interfaces::Node& node)
     std::unique_ptr<const PlatformStyle> platformStyle(PlatformStyle::instantiate("other"));
     SendCoinsDialog sendCoinsDialog(platformStyle.get());
     TransactionView transactionView(platformStyle.get());
-    OptionsModel optionsModel;
+    OptionsModel optionsModel(node);
     ClientModel clientModel(node, &optionsModel);
     WalletContext& context = *node.walletLoader().context();
     AddWallet(context, wallet);