diff --git a/src/transaction_builder.js b/src/transaction_builder.js
index 109944c..8fc6cf8 100644
--- a/src/transaction_builder.js
+++ b/src/transaction_builder.js
@@ -384,9 +384,6 @@ TransactionBuilder.prototype.__build = function (allowIncomplete) {
   if (!allowIncomplete) {
     if (!this.tx.ins.length) throw new Error('Transaction has no inputs')
     if (!this.tx.outs.length) throw new Error('Transaction has no outputs')
-
-    // do not rely on this, its merely a last resort
-    if (this.__hasAbsurdFee()) throw new Error('Transaction has absurd fees')
   }
 
   var tx = this.tx.clone()
@@ -408,6 +405,13 @@ TransactionBuilder.prototype.__build = function (allowIncomplete) {
     tx.setInputScript(i, scriptSig)
   })
 
+  if (!allowIncomplete) {
+    // do not rely on this, its merely a last resort
+    if (this.__hasAbsurdFeeRate(tx.byteLength())) {
+      throw new Error('Transaction has absurd fees')
+    }
+  }
+
   return tx
 }
 
@@ -499,7 +503,7 @@ TransactionBuilder.prototype.__canModifyOutputs = function () {
   })
 }
 
-TransactionBuilder.prototype.__hasAbsurdFee = function () {
+TransactionBuilder.prototype.__hasAbsurdFeeRate = function (bytes) {
   // not all inputs will have .value defined
   var incoming = this.inputs.reduce(function (a, x) { return a + (x.value >>> 0) }, 0)
 
@@ -507,10 +511,9 @@ TransactionBuilder.prototype.__hasAbsurdFee = function () {
   // we can immediately determine if the outputs are too small
   var outgoing = this.tx.outs.reduce(function (a, x) { return a + x.value }, 0)
   var fee = incoming - outgoing
+  var feeRate = fee / bytes
 
-  // its not fool-proof, but, it might help somebody
-  // fee > 0.2BTC
-  return fee > (0.2 * 1e8)
+  return feeRate > 1000
 }
 
 module.exports = TransactionBuilder
diff --git a/test/fixtures/transaction_builder.json b/test/fixtures/transaction_builder.json
index 65402e6..f227041 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/transaction_builder.json
+++ b/test/fixtures/transaction_builder.json
@@ -666,14 +666,28 @@
         "exception": "Transaction has absurd fees",
         "inputs": [
           {
-            "txHex": "01000000000100e1f505000000000000000000",
-            "vout": 0
+            "txRaw": {
+              "inputs": [],
+              "outputs": [
+                {
+                  "address": "1C5XhB1UkFuyCV1CG9dmXaXGu3xDL4nAjv",
+                  "value": 1000000000
+                }
+              ],
+              "incomplete": true
+            },
+            "vout": 0,
+            "signs": [
+              {
+                "keyPair": "KzBQVXYUGDAvqG7VeU3C7ZMRYiwtsxSVVFcYGzKU9E4aUVDUquZU"
+              }
+            ]
           }
         ],
         "outputs": [
           {
             "script": "OP_DUP OP_HASH160 ff99e06c1a4ac394b4e1cb3d3a4b2b47749e339a OP_EQUALVERIFY OP_CHECKSIG",
-            "value": 100000
+            "value": 200000
           }
         ]
       },
diff --git a/test/transaction_builder.js b/test/transaction_builder.js
index b370b06..25641f0 100644
--- a/test/transaction_builder.js
+++ b/test/transaction_builder.js
@@ -21,17 +21,31 @@ function construct (f, sign) {
   if (f.locktime !== undefined) txb.setLockTime(f.locktime)
 
   f.inputs.forEach(function (input) {
-    var prevTxScript
+    var prevTx
+    if (input.txRaw) {
+      var constructed = construct(input.txRaw)
+      if (input.txRaw.incomplete) prevTx = constructed.buildIncomplete()
+      else prevTx = constructed.build()
+    } else if (input.txHex) {
+      prevTx = Transaction.fromHex(input.txHex)
+    } else {
+      prevTx = input.txId
+    }
 
-    if (!input.txHex && input.prevTxScript) {
+    var prevTxScript
+    if (input.prevTxScript) {
       prevTxScript = bscript.fromASM(input.prevTxScript)
     }
 
-    txb.addInput(input.txId || Transaction.fromHex(input.txHex), input.vout, input.sequence, prevTxScript)
+    txb.addInput(prevTx, input.vout, input.sequence, prevTxScript)
   })
 
   f.outputs.forEach(function (output) {
-    txb.addOutput(bscript.fromASM(output.script), output.value)
+    if (output.address) {
+      txb.addOutput(output.address, output.value)
+    } else {
+      txb.addOutput(bscript.fromASM(output.script), output.value)
+    }
   })
 
   if (sign === false) return txb