diff --git a/src/message.js b/src/message.js
index 943d82b..4bb96a3 100644
--- a/src/message.js
+++ b/src/message.js
@@ -35,14 +35,19 @@ function sign(privKey, message, network) {
 }
 
 // TODO: network could be implied from address
-function verify(address, signatureBuffer, message, network) {
+function verify(address, signature, message, network) {
+  if (!Buffer.isBuffer(signature)) {
+    signature = new Buffer(signature, 'base64')
+  }
+
   if (address instanceof Address) {
     address = address.toString()
   }
+
   network = network || networks.bitcoin
 
   var hash = magicHash(message, network)
-  var parsed = ECSignature.parseCompact(signatureBuffer)
+  var parsed = ECSignature.parseCompact(signature)
   var e = BigInteger.fromBuffer(hash)
   var Q = ecdsa.recoverPubKey(ecparams, e, parsed.signature, parsed.i)
 
diff --git a/test/ecpubkey.js b/test/ecpubkey.js
index 62609ef..35302f5 100644
--- a/test/ecpubkey.js
+++ b/test/ecpubkey.js
@@ -91,13 +91,13 @@ describe('ECPubKey', function() {
     it('verifies a valid signature', function() {
       var hash = crypto.sha256(fixtures.message)
 
-      assert.ok(pubKey.verify(hash, signature))
+      assert(pubKey.verify(hash, signature))
     })
 
     it('doesn\'t verify the wrong signature', function() {
       var hash = crypto.sha256('mushrooms')
 
-      assert.ok(!pubKey.verify(hash, signature))
+      assert(!pubKey.verify(hash, signature))
     })
   })
 })
diff --git a/test/message.js b/test/message.js
index d69a41f..0161e1b 100644
--- a/test/message.js
+++ b/test/message.js
@@ -26,29 +26,25 @@ describe('Message', function() {
       var network = networks[f.network]
 
       var address = Address.fromBase58Check(f.address)
-      var signature = new Buffer(f.signature, 'base64')
-      assert.ok(Message.verify(address, signature, f.message, network))
+      assert(Message.verify(address, f.signature, f.message, network))
     })
 
     fixtures.valid.verify.forEach(function(f) {
       it('verifies a valid signature for \"' + f.message + '\" (' + f.network + ')', function() {
         var network = networks[f.network]
 
-        var signature = new Buffer(f.signature, 'base64')
-        assert.ok(Message.verify(f.address, signature, f.message, network))
+        var signature = f.signature
+        assert(Message.verify(f.address, f.signature, f.message, network))
 
         if (f.compressed) {
-          var compressedSignature = new Buffer(f.compressed.signature, 'base64')
-
-          assert.ok(Message.verify(f.compressed.address, compressedSignature, f.message, network))
+          assert(Message.verify(f.compressed.address, f.compressed.signature, f.message, network))
         }
       })
     })
 
     fixtures.invalid.verify.forEach(function(f) {
       it(f.description, function() {
-        var signature = new Buffer(f.signature, 'base64')
-        assert.ok(!Message.verify(f.address, signature, f.message))
+        assert(!Message.verify(f.address, f.signature, f.message))
       })
     })
   })
diff --git a/test/wallet.js b/test/wallet.js
index 8f18241..9c002fe 100644
--- a/test/wallet.js
+++ b/test/wallet.js
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ describe('Wallet', function() {
     describe('when seed is not specified', function(){
       it('generates a seed', function(){
         var wallet = new Wallet()
-        assert.ok(wallet.getMasterKey())
+        assert(wallet.getMasterKey())
       })
     })