diff --git a/electrum b/electrum
index 2150f6fe7..93f2a9df5 100755
--- a/electrum
+++ b/electrum
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ options:\n  --fee, -f: set transaction fee\n  --fromaddr, -s: send from address
     'unfreeze':'',
     'prioritize':'',
     'unprioritize':'',
+    'dumpprivkey':'',
     'createmultisig':'similar to bitcoind\'s command',
     'createrawtransaction':'similar to bitcoind\'s command',
     'decoderawtransaction':'similar to bitcoind\'s command',
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ offline_commands = [ 'password', 'mktx', 'signtx',
                      ]
 
 
-protected_commands = ['payto', 'password', 'mktx', 'signtx', 'seed', 'importprivkey','signmessage', 'signrawtransaction' ]
+protected_commands = ['payto', 'password', 'mktx', 'signtx', 'seed', 'importprivkey','signmessage', 'signrawtransaction','dumpprivkey' ]
 
 # get password routine
 def prompt_password(prompt, confirm=True):
@@ -696,6 +697,12 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
         print_msg(wallet.unprioritize(addr))
 
 
+    elif cmd == 'dumpprivkey':
+        addr = args[1]
+        sec = wallet.get_private_key_base58(addr, password)
+        print_msg( sec )
+
+        
     elif cmd == 'createmultisig':
         import ast
         from lib.bitcoin import *
@@ -726,24 +733,34 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 
 
     elif cmd == 'signrawtransaction':
+        import ast
         tx = Transaction(args[1])
-        txouts = args[2] if len(args)>2 else []
-        private_keys = args[3] if len(args)>3 else {}
+        txouts = ast.literal_eval(args[2]) if len(args)>2 else []
+        private_keys = ast.literal_eval(args[3]) if len(args)>3 else {}
+
+        # lookup addresses
+        for txin in tx.inputs:
+            txid = txin["prevout_hash"]
+            index = txin["prevout_n"]
+            utx = wallet.transactions.get(txid)
+            txout = utx['outputs'][index]
+            txin['address'] = txout['address']
+            txin['raw_output_script'] = txout['raw_output_script']
+            # convert to own format
+            txin['tx_hash'] = txin['prevout_hash']
+            txin['index'] = txin['prevout_n']
 
         if not private_keys:
             for txin in tx.inputs:
-                txid = txin["prevout_hash"]
-                index = txin["prevout_n"]
-                utx = wallet.transactions.get(txid)
-                txout = utx['outputs'][index]
-                txin['address'] = txout['address']
-                txin['raw_output_script'] = txout['raw_output_script']
-                # convert to own format
-                txin['tx_hash'] = txin['prevout_hash']
-                txin['index'] = txin['prevout_n']
-                secexp, compressed = wallet.get_private_key(txin['address'], password)
-                private_keys[addr] = (secexp,compressed)
-            
+                addr = txin['address']
+                private_keys[addr] = wallet.get_private_key_base58(addr, password)
+        else:
+            pk = {}
+            for sec in private_keys:
+                address = bitcoin.address_from_private_key(sec)
+                pk[address] = sec
+            private_keys = pk
+
         tx.sign( private_keys )
         print_msg(tx)
         
diff --git a/lib/bitcoin.py b/lib/bitcoin.py
index 970f100ca..f84bd5828 100644
--- a/lib/bitcoin.py
+++ b/lib/bitcoin.py
@@ -232,6 +232,22 @@ def is_compressed(sec):
     b = ASecretToSecret(sec)
     return len(b) == 33
 
+
+def address_from_private_key(sec):
+    # rebuild public key from private key, compressed or uncompressed
+    pkey = regenerate_key(sec)
+    assert pkey
+
+    # figure out if private key is compressed
+    compressed = is_compressed(sec)
+        
+    # rebuild private and public key from regenerated secret
+    private_key = GetPrivKey(pkey, compressed)
+    public_key = GetPubKey(pkey.pubkey, compressed)
+    address = public_key_to_bc_address(public_key)
+    return address
+
+
 ########### end pywallet functions #######################
 
 # secp256k1, http://www.oid-info.com/get/1.3.132.0.10
@@ -447,7 +463,11 @@ class Transaction:
 
         for i in range(len(self.inputs)):
             txin = self.inputs[i]
-            secexp, compressed = private_keys[txin['address']]
+            sec = private_keys[txin['address']]
+            compressed = is_compressed(sec)
+            pkey = regenerate_key(sec)
+            secexp = pkey.secret
+
             private_key = ecdsa.SigningKey.from_secret_exponent( secexp, curve = SECP256k1 )
             public_key = private_key.get_verifying_key()
             pkey = EC_KEY(secexp)
diff --git a/lib/wallet.py b/lib/wallet.py
index df76f8e40..ff00f6636 100644
--- a/lib/wallet.py
+++ b/lib/wallet.py
@@ -120,19 +120,8 @@ class Wallet:
         except:
             raise BaseException("Invalid password")
 
-        # rebuild public key from private key, compressed or uncompressed
-        pkey = regenerate_key(sec)
-        if not pkey:
-            return False
-        
-        # figure out if private key is compressed
-        compressed = is_compressed(sec)
-        
-        # rebuild private and public key from regenerated secret
-        private_key = GetPrivKey(pkey, compressed)
-        public_key = GetPubKey(pkey.pubkey, compressed)
-        address = public_key_to_bc_address(public_key)
-        
+        address = address_from_private_key(sec)
+
         if address in self.all_addresses():
             raise BaseException('Address already in wallet')