diff --git a/contracts/axelarnet-gateway/src/contract/execute.rs b/contracts/axelarnet-gateway/src/contract/execute.rs
index 3d97fe94d..38b5ccbdc 100644
--- a/contracts/axelarnet-gateway/src/contract/execute.rs
+++ b/contracts/axelarnet-gateway/src/contract/execute.rs
@@ -96,9 +96,8 @@ pub fn call_contract(
     call_contract: CallContractData,
 ) -> Result<Response<nexus::execute::Message>> {
     let Config {
-        router,
         chain_name,
-        nexus,
+        ..
     } = state::load_config(storage);
 
     let client: nexus::Client = client::CosmosClient::new(querier).into();
@@ -119,24 +118,7 @@ pub fn call_contract(
         token: token.clone(),
     };
 
-    let res = match determine_routing_destination(
-        storage,
-        &info.sender,
-        &client,
-        &msg.destination_chain,
-    )? {
-        RoutingDestination::Nexus => {
-            Response::new().add_messages(route_to_nexus(&client, &nexus, msg, token)?)
-        }
-        RoutingDestination::Router if token.is_none() => {
-            let (messages, events) = route_to_router(&Router::new(router), vec![msg])?;
-            Response::new().add_messages(messages).add_events(events)
-        }
-        _ => bail!(Error::InvalidRoutingDestination),
-    }
-    .add_event(event.into());
-
-    Ok(res)
+    route_messages(storage, querier, info.sender, vec![msg]).map(|res| res.add_event(event.into()))
 }
 
 pub fn route_messages(
@@ -170,16 +152,21 @@ pub fn route_messages(
         .group_by(|msg| msg.destination_chain.to_owned())
         .into_iter()
         .try_fold(Response::new(), |acc, (dest_chain, msgs)| {
-            let (messages, events) =
-                match determine_routing_destination(storage, &sender, &client, &dest_chain)? {
-                    RoutingDestination::This => {
-                        prepare_msgs_for_execution(storage, chain_name.clone(), msgs.collect())
-                    }
-                    RoutingDestination::Nexus => {
-                        route_messages_to_nexus(&client, &nexus, msgs.collect())
-                    }
-                    RoutingDestination::Router => route_to_router(&router, msgs.collect()),
-                }?;
+            let (messages, events) = match determine_routing_destination(
+                &sender,
+                &client,
+                &dest_chain,
+                &router.address,
+                &chain_name,
+            )? {
+                RoutingDestination::This => {
+                    prepare_msgs_for_execution(storage, chain_name.clone(), msgs.collect())
+                }
+                RoutingDestination::Nexus => {
+                    route_messages_to_nexus(&client, &nexus, msgs.collect())
+                }
+                RoutingDestination::Router => route_to_router(&router, msgs.collect()),
+            }?;
 
             Ok(acc.add_messages(messages).add_events(events))
         })
@@ -323,24 +310,19 @@ fn unique_cross_chain_id(client: &nexus::Client, chain_name: ChainName) -> Resul
 
 /// Query Nexus module in core to decide should route message to core
 fn determine_routing_destination(
-    storage: &dyn Storage,
     sender: &Addr,
     client: &nexus::Client,
     dest_chain: &ChainName,
+    router: &Addr,
+    this_chain: &ChainName,
 ) -> Result<RoutingDestination> {
-    let Config {
-        chain_name: this_chain,
-        router,
-        ..
-    } = state::load_config(storage);
-
     if client
         .is_chain_registered(dest_chain)
         .change_context(Error::Nexus)?
     {
         RoutingDestination::Nexus
     } else if sender == router {
-        ensure!(*dest_chain == this_chain, Error::InvalidRoutingDestination);
+        ensure!(dest_chain == this_chain, Error::InvalidRoutingDestination);
         RoutingDestination::This
     } else {
         RoutingDestination::Router