diff --git a/src/message.js b/src/message.js
index c817632..84dd83c 100644
--- a/src/message.js
+++ b/src/message.js
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ Message.getHash = function (message) {
   return convert.wordArrayToBytes(SHA256(SHA256(convert.bytesToWordArray(buffer))));
 };
 
-Message.signMessage = function (key, message, compressed) {
+Message.signMessage = function (key, message) {
   var hash = Message.getHash(message);
 
   var sig = key.sign(hash);
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ Message.signMessage = function (key, message, compressed) {
   var i = ecdsa.calcPubkeyRecoveryParam(key, obj.r, obj.s, hash);
 
   i += 27;
-  if (compressed) i += 4;
+  if (key.compressed) i += 4;
 
   var rBa = obj.r.toByteArrayUnsigned();
   var sBa = obj.s.toByteArrayUnsigned();
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ Message.verifyMessage = function (address, sig, message) {
 
   var isCompressed = !!(sig.i & 4);
   var pubKey = ecdsa.recoverPubKey(sig.r, sig.s, hash, sig.i);
+  pubKey.compressed = isCompressed;
 
   var expectedAddress = pubKey.getBitcoinAddress().toString();
 
diff --git a/test/message.js b/test/message.js
index 553cd13..fd00fa9 100644
--- a/test/message.js
+++ b/test/message.js
@@ -30,5 +30,21 @@ describe('Message', function() {
             var sig = Message.signMessage(key, msg);
             assert.ok(!Message.verifyMessage(addr, sig, msg));
         })
+
+        it('handles compressed keys', function() {
+            var key = new ECKey(hexToBytes(priv));
+            key.compressed = true
+
+            var addr = key.getBitcoinAddress().toString()
+
+            var sig = Message.signMessage(key, msg);
+            assert.ok(Message.verifyMessage(addr, sig, msg));
+
+            // wrong message
+            assert.ok(!Message.verifyMessage(addr, sig, 'not foobar'));
+
+            // wrong address
+            assert.ok(!Message.verifyMessage('1MsHWS1BnwMc3tLE8G35UXsS58fKipzB7a', sig, msg));
+        })
     })
 })