diff --git a/.avalanche-golangci.yml b/.avalanche-golangci.yml
index e0aed8d2ad..ac24ac70be 100644
--- a/.avalanche-golangci.yml
+++ b/.avalanche-golangci.yml
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ linters:
     - bodyclose
     - copyloopvar
     - depguard
-    # - errcheck
+    - errcheck
     - errorlint
     - forbidigo
     - goconst
diff --git a/core/fifo_cache.go b/core/fifo_cache.go
index 9f1eb8cf1e..06e9de1cbe 100644
--- a/core/fifo_cache.go
+++ b/core/fifo_cache.go
@@ -44,7 +44,9 @@ func (f *BufferFIFOCache[K, V]) Put(key K, val V) {
 	f.l.Lock()
 	defer f.l.Unlock()
 
-	f.buffer.Insert(key) // Insert will remove the oldest [K] if we are at the [limit]
+	// Insert will remove the oldest [K] if we are at the [limit] -
+	// remove always returns nil, so it is safe to ignore this error.
+	_ = f.buffer.Insert(key)
 	f.m[key] = val
 }
 
diff --git a/core/state/trie_prefetcher_extra_test.go b/core/state/trie_prefetcher_extra_test.go
index d312b98d4d..8b60d49cb3 100644
--- a/core/state/trie_prefetcher_extra_test.go
+++ b/core/state/trie_prefetcher_extra_test.go
@@ -178,8 +178,9 @@ func addKVs(
 		for i := 0; i < count/2; i++ {
 			key := make([]byte, 32)
 			value := make([]byte, 32)
-			rand.Read(key)
-			rand.Read(value)
+			// rand.Read never returns an error
+			_, _ = rand.Read(key)
+			_, _ = rand.Read(value)
 
 			statedb.SetState(address, common.BytesToHash(key), common.BytesToHash(value))
 		}
diff --git a/core/state_manager_test.go b/core/state_manager_test.go
index 03bb4a6ac6..f2d1c3894d 100644
--- a/core/state_manager_test.go
+++ b/core/state_manager_test.go
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ func TestCappedMemoryTrieWriter(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, w.InsertTrie(block))
 		require.Zero(t, m.LastDereference, "should not have dereferenced block on insert")
 		require.Zero(t, m.LastCommit, "should not have committed block on insert")
+		require.NoError(t, w.AcceptTrie(block))
 
-		w.AcceptTrie(block)
 		if i <= tipBufferSize {
 			require.Zero(t, m.LastDereference, "should not have dereferenced block on accept")
 		} else {
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ func TestCappedMemoryTrieWriter(t *testing.T) {
 			m.LastCommit = common.Hash{}
 		}
 
-		w.RejectTrie(block)
+		require.NoError(t, w.RejectTrie(block))
 		require.Equal(t, block.Root(), m.LastDereference, "should have dereferenced block on reject")
 		require.Zero(t, m.LastCommit, "should not have committed block on reject")
 		m.LastDereference = common.Hash{}
@@ -94,12 +94,12 @@ func TestNoPruningTrieWriter(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Zero(t, m.LastDereference, "should not have dereferenced block on insert")
 		require.Zero(t, m.LastCommit, "should not have committed block on insert")
 
-		w.AcceptTrie(block)
+		require.NoError(t, w.AcceptTrie(block))
 		require.Zero(t, m.LastDereference, "should not have dereferenced block on accept")
 		require.Equal(t, block.Root(), m.LastCommit, "should have committed block on accept")
 		m.LastCommit = common.Hash{}
 
-		w.RejectTrie(block)
+		require.NoError(t, w.RejectTrie(block))
 		require.Equal(t, block.Root(), m.LastDereference, "should have dereferenced block on reject")
 		require.Zero(t, m.LastCommit, "should not have committed block on reject")
 		m.LastDereference = common.Hash{}
diff --git a/plugin/evm/message/codec.go b/plugin/evm/message/codec.go
index ba71af2f32..f887b925ea 100644
--- a/plugin/evm/message/codec.go
+++ b/plugin/evm/message/codec.go
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func init() {
 	// See https://github.com/ava-labs/coreth/pull/999
 	c.SkipRegistrations(3)
 
-	Codec.RegisterCodec(Version, c)
+	errs.Add(Codec.RegisterCodec(Version, c))
 
 	if errs.Errored() {
 		panic(errs.Err)
diff --git a/plugin/evm/syncervm_test.go b/plugin/evm/syncervm_test.go
index 8054fdbae6..4848243206 100644
--- a/plugin/evm/syncervm_test.go
+++ b/plugin/evm/syncervm_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ava-labs/avalanchego/snow/engine/enginetest"
 	"github.com/ava-labs/avalanchego/snow/engine/snowman/block"
 	"github.com/ava-labs/avalanchego/upgrade/upgradetest"
+	"github.com/ava-labs/avalanchego/utils"
 	"github.com/ava-labs/avalanchego/utils/set"
 	"github.com/ava-labs/avalanchego/vms/evm/database"
 	"github.com/ava-labs/avalanchego/vms/evm/predicate"
@@ -104,7 +105,7 @@ func TestStateSyncToggleEnabledToDisabled(t *testing.T) {
 				require.NoError(t, syncerVM.AppRequestFailed(t.Context(), nodeID, requestID, commonEng.ErrTimeout))
 				require.NoError(t, syncerVM.Client.Shutdown())
 			} else {
-				syncerVM.AppResponse(t.Context(), nodeID, requestID, response)
+				require.NoError(t, syncerVM.AppResponse(t.Context(), nodeID, requestID, response))
 			}
 		},
 		expectedErr: context.Canceled,
@@ -118,13 +119,18 @@ func TestStateSyncToggleEnabledToDisabled(t *testing.T) {
 	test.responseIntercept = nil
 	test.expectedErr = nil
 
+	var atomicErr utils.Atomic[error]
 	syncDisabledVM := &VM{}
 	appSender := &enginetest.Sender{T: t}
 	appSender.SendAppGossipF = func(context.Context, commonEng.SendConfig, []byte) error { return nil }
 	appSender.SendAppRequestF = func(ctx context.Context, nodeSet set.Set[ids.NodeID], requestID uint32, request []byte) error {
 		nodeID, hasItem := nodeSet.Pop()
 		require.True(t, hasItem, "expected nodeSet to contain at least 1 nodeID")
-		go vmSetup.serverVM.AppRequest(ctx, nodeID, requestID, time.Now().Add(1*time.Second), request)
+		go func() {
+			if err := vmSetup.serverVM.AppRequest(ctx, nodeID, requestID, time.Now().Add(1*time.Second), request); err != nil {
+				atomicErr.Set(err)
+			}
+		}()
 		return nil
 	}
 	// Reset metrics to allow re-initialization
@@ -191,7 +197,11 @@ func TestStateSyncToggleEnabledToDisabled(t *testing.T) {
 	// override [serverVM]'s SendAppResponse function to trigger AppResponse on [syncerVM]
 	vmSetup.serverAppSender.SendAppResponseF = func(ctx context.Context, nodeID ids.NodeID, requestID uint32, response []byte) error {
 		if test.responseIntercept == nil {
-			go syncReEnabledVM.AppResponse(ctx, nodeID, requestID, response)
+			go func() {
+				if err := syncReEnabledVM.AppResponse(ctx, nodeID, requestID, response); err != nil {
+					atomicErr.Set(err)
+				}
+			}()
 		} else {
 			go test.responseIntercept(syncReEnabledVM, nodeID, requestID, response)
 		}
@@ -212,6 +222,7 @@ func TestStateSyncToggleEnabledToDisabled(t *testing.T) {
 
 	vmSetup.syncerVM = syncReEnabledVM
 	testSyncerVM(t, vmSetup, test)
+	require.NoError(t, atomicErr.Get())
 }
 
 func TestVMShutdownWhileSyncing(t *testing.T) {
@@ -311,15 +322,23 @@ func createSyncServerAndClientVMs(t *testing.T, test syncTest, numBlocks int) *s
 	require.True(enabled)
 
 	// override [serverVM]'s SendAppResponse function to trigger AppResponse on [syncerVM]
+	var atomicErr utils.Atomic[error]
 	serverVM.appSender.SendAppResponseF = func(ctx context.Context, nodeID ids.NodeID, requestID uint32, response []byte) error {
 		if test.responseIntercept == nil {
-			go syncerVM.vm.AppResponse(ctx, nodeID, requestID, response)
+			go func() {
+				if err := syncerVM.vm.AppResponse(ctx, nodeID, requestID, response); err != nil {
+					atomicErr.Set(err)
+				}
+			}()
 		} else {
 			go test.responseIntercept(syncerVM.vm, nodeID, requestID, response)
 		}
 
 		return nil
 	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		require.NoError(atomicErr.Get())
+	})
 
 	// connect peer to [syncerVM]
 	require.NoError(
diff --git a/plugin/evm/vm.go b/plugin/evm/vm.go
index 9730d31981..f84550a60a 100644
--- a/plugin/evm/vm.go
+++ b/plugin/evm/vm.go
@@ -497,7 +497,9 @@ func (vm *VM) Initialize(
 
 	// Add p2p warp message warpHandler
 	warpHandler := acp118.NewCachedHandler(meteredCache, vm.warpBackend, vm.ctx.WarpSigner)
-	vm.Network.AddHandler(p2p.SignatureRequestHandlerID, warpHandler)
+	if err = vm.Network.AddHandler(p2p.SignatureRequestHandlerID, warpHandler); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	vm.stateSyncDone = make(chan struct{})
 
@@ -813,7 +815,9 @@ func (vm *VM) onNormalOperationsStarted() error {
 
 	// Initially sync the uptime tracker so that APIs expose recent data even if
 	// called immediately after bootstrapping.
-	vm.uptimeTracker.Sync(ctx)
+	if err := vm.uptimeTracker.Sync(ctx); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	vm.shutdownWg.Add(1)
 	go func() {
@@ -986,8 +990,9 @@ func (vm *VM) Shutdown(context.Context) error {
 	for _, handler := range vm.rpcHandlers {
 		handler.Stop()
 	}
-	vm.eth.Stop()
-	log.Info("Ethereum backend stop completed")
+	if err := vm.eth.Stop(); err != nil {
+		log.Error("failed stopping eth", "err", err)
+	}
 	if vm.usingStandaloneDB {
 		if err := vm.db.Close(); err != nil {
 			log.Error("failed to close database: %w", err)
diff --git a/plugin/evm/vm_test.go b/plugin/evm/vm_test.go
index 6c1dbcae7c..88d012b4ba 100644
--- a/plugin/evm/vm_test.go
+++ b/plugin/evm/vm_test.go
@@ -2719,7 +2719,9 @@ func TestStandaloneDB(t *testing.T) {
 		[]*commonEng.Fx{},
 		appSender,
 	)
-	defer vm.Shutdown(t.Context())
+	defer func() {
+		require.NoError(t, vm.Shutdown(t.Context()))
+	}()
 	require.NoError(t, err, "error initializing VM")
 	require.NoError(t, vm.SetState(t.Context(), snow.Bootstrapping))
 	require.NoError(t, vm.SetState(t.Context(), snow.NormalOp))
@@ -3166,7 +3168,7 @@ func TestWaitForEvent(t *testing.T) {
 				fork: &fork,
 			}).vm
 			testCase.testCase(t, tvm)
-			tvm.Shutdown(t.Context())
+			require.NoError(t, tvm.Shutdown(t.Context()))
 		})
 	}
 }
@@ -3533,7 +3535,9 @@ func TestDelegatePrecompile_BehaviorAcrossUpgrades(t *testing.T) {
 				genesisJSON: string(genesisJSON),
 				fork:        &tt.fork,
 			}).vm
-			defer vm.Shutdown(ctx)
+			defer func() {
+				require.NoError(t, vm.Shutdown(ctx))
+			}()
 
 			if tt.preDeployTime != 0 {
 				vm.clock.Set(time.Unix(tt.preDeployTime, 0))
@@ -3704,6 +3708,6 @@ func TestInspectDatabases(t *testing.T) {
 		db = memdb.New()
 	)
 
-	vm.initializeDBs(db)
+	require.NoError(t, vm.initializeDBs(db))
 	require.NoError(t, vm.inspectDatabases())
 }
diff --git a/plugin/evm/vm_uptime_test.go b/plugin/evm/vm_uptime_test.go
index 6399b7ed61..9f9d4217a2 100644
--- a/plugin/evm/vm_uptime_test.go
+++ b/plugin/evm/vm_uptime_test.go
@@ -63,7 +63,9 @@ func TestUptimeTracker(t *testing.T) {
 		[]*commonEng.Fx{},
 		appSender,
 	))
-	defer vm.Shutdown(t.Context())
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		require.NoError(vm.Shutdown(t.Context()))
+	})
 
 	// Mock the clock to control time progression
 	clock := vm.clock
diff --git a/plugin/runner/runner.go b/plugin/runner/runner.go
index 7ee8d2ab8c..e6fed9be2f 100644
--- a/plugin/runner/runner.go
+++ b/plugin/runner/runner.go
@@ -29,5 +29,8 @@ func Run(versionStr string) {
 		fmt.Printf("failed to set fd limit correctly due to: %s", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
-	rpcchainvm.Serve(context.Background(), &evm.VM{})
+	if err := rpcchainvm.Serve(context.Background(), &evm.VM{}); err != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("failed to serve VM: %s", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
 }
diff --git a/precompile/contracts/rewardmanager/config.go b/precompile/contracts/rewardmanager/config.go
index 75069e9cde..f779c54a11 100644
--- a/precompile/contracts/rewardmanager/config.go
+++ b/precompile/contracts/rewardmanager/config.go
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ func (i *InitialRewardConfig) Verify() error {
 	}
 }
 
-func (i *InitialRewardConfig) Configure(state contract.StateDB) error {
+func (i *InitialRewardConfig) Configure(state contract.StateDB) {
 	// enable allow fee recipients
 	if i.AllowFeeRecipients {
 		EnableAllowFeeRecipients(state)
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ func (i *InitialRewardConfig) Configure(state contract.StateDB) error {
 		// set reward address
 		StoreRewardAddress(state, i.RewardAddress)
 	}
-	return nil
 }
 
 // Config implements the StatefulPrecompileConfig interface while adding in the
diff --git a/sync/statesync/sync_test.go b/sync/statesync/sync_test.go
index f4f92d2daf..bd8b48a8d4 100644
--- a/sync/statesync/sync_test.go
+++ b/sync/statesync/sync_test.go
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ func testSync(t *testing.T, test syncTest) {
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err, "failed to create state syncer")
 	// begin sync
-	s.Start(ctx)
+	require.NoError(t, s.Start(ctx))
 	waitFor(t, t.Context(), s.Wait, test.expectedError, testSyncTimeout)
 	if test.expectedError != nil {
 		return
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ func waitFor(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, resultFunc func(context.Context)
 	if ctx.Err() != nil {
 		// print a stack trace to assist with debugging
 		var stackBuf bytes.Buffer
-		pprof.Lookup("goroutine").WriteTo(&stackBuf, 2)
+		require.NoErrorf(t, pprof.Lookup("goroutine").WriteTo(&stackBuf, 2), "error trying to print stack trace for timeout")
 		t.Log(stackBuf.String())
 		// fail the test
 		require.Fail(t, "unexpected timeout waiting for sync result")
diff --git a/sync/statesync/trie_sync_tasks.go b/sync/statesync/trie_sync_tasks.go
index 40f1075f3a..2c7467022d 100644
--- a/sync/statesync/trie_sync_tasks.go
+++ b/sync/statesync/trie_sync_tasks.go
@@ -75,7 +75,9 @@ func (m *mainTrieTask) OnLeafs(db ethdb.KeyValueWriter, keys, vals [][]byte) err
 
 		// check if this account has storage root that we need to fetch
 		if acc.Root != (common.Hash{}) && acc.Root != types.EmptyRootHash {
-			m.sync.trieQueue.RegisterStorageTrie(acc.Root, accountHash)
+			if err := m.sync.trieQueue.RegisterStorageTrie(acc.Root, accountHash); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
 		}
 
 		// check if this account has code and add it to codeHashes to fetch
diff --git a/tests/utils/tmpnet.go b/tests/utils/tmpnet.go
index 3bbfdf4921..5a0a067840 100644
--- a/tests/utils/tmpnet.go
+++ b/tests/utils/tmpnet.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ func NewTmpnetNodes(count int) []*tmpnet.Node {
 	nodes := make([]*tmpnet.Node, count)
 	for i := range nodes {
 		node := tmpnet.NewNode()
-		node.EnsureKeys()
+		_ = node.EnsureKeys() // guaranteed to be nil for new node
 		nodes[i] = node
 	}
 	return nodes
diff --git a/tests/warp/warp_test.go b/tests/warp/warp_test.go
index e0c22a6d5b..e715a30907 100644
--- a/tests/warp/warp_test.go
+++ b/tests/warp/warp_test.go
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ func (w *warpTest) aggregateSignaturesViaAPI() {
 	numSigners, err := parsedWarpMessage.Signature.NumSigners()
 	require.NoError(err)
 	require.Len(warpValidators.Validators, numSigners)
-	parsedWarpMessage.Signature.Verify(&parsedWarpMessage.UnsignedMessage, w.networkID, warpValidators, warp.WarpQuorumDenominator, warp.WarpQuorumDenominator)
+	err = parsedWarpMessage.Signature.Verify(&parsedWarpMessage.UnsignedMessage, w.networkID, warpValidators, warp.WarpQuorumDenominator, warp.WarpQuorumDenominator)
 	require.NoError(err)
 	w.addressedCallSignedMessage = parsedWarpMessage
 
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ func (w *warpTest) aggregateSignaturesViaAPI() {
 	numSigners, err = parsedWarpBlockMessage.Signature.NumSigners()
 	require.NoError(err)
 	require.Len(warpValidators.Validators, numSigners)
-	parsedWarpBlockMessage.Signature.Verify(&parsedWarpBlockMessage.UnsignedMessage, w.networkID, warpValidators, warp.WarpQuorumDenominator, warp.WarpQuorumDenominator)
+	err = parsedWarpBlockMessage.Signature.Verify(&parsedWarpBlockMessage.UnsignedMessage, w.networkID, warpValidators, warp.WarpQuorumDenominator, warp.WarpQuorumDenominator)
 	require.NoError(err)
 	w.blockPayloadSignedMessage = parsedWarpBlockMessage
 }
diff --git a/triedb/firewood/database.go b/triedb/firewood/database.go
index e9ab2da66f..f95104260f 100644
--- a/triedb/firewood/database.go
+++ b/triedb/firewood/database.go
@@ -556,7 +556,11 @@ func (db *Database) getProposalHash(parentRoot common.Hash, keys, values [][]byt
 	ffiHashTimer.Inc(time.Since(start).Milliseconds())
 
 	// We succesffuly created a proposal, so we must drop it after use.
-	defer p.Drop()
+	defer func() {
+		if err := p.Drop(); err != nil {
+			log.Error("firewood: error dropping proposal after hash computation", "parentRoot", parentRoot.Hex(), "error", err)
+		}
+	}()
 
 	root, err := p.Root()
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/warp/verifier_backend_test.go b/warp/verifier_backend_test.go
index 97d679cc76..afd6d0c8bf 100644
--- a/warp/verifier_backend_test.go
+++ b/warp/verifier_backend_test.go
@@ -58,8 +58,7 @@ func TestAddressedCallSignatures(t *testing.T) {
 				require.NoError(t, err)
 				signature, err := snowCtx.WarpSigner.Sign(msg)
 				require.NoError(t, err)
-
-				backend.AddMessage(msg)
+				require.NoError(t, backend.AddMessage(msg))
 				return msg.Bytes(), signature
 			},
 			verifyStats: func(t *testing.T, stats *verifierStats) {