diff --git a/chainlib/eth/address.py b/chainlib/eth/address.py
index 48acf17..151fc9e 100644
--- a/chainlib/eth/address.py
+++ b/chainlib/eth/address.py
@@ -42,3 +42,7 @@ class AddressChecksum:
         :returns: Checksum address
         """
         return to_checksum_address(v)
+
+
+def is_same_address(a, b):
+    return uniform(strip_0x(a)) == uniform(strip_0x(b))
diff --git a/chainlib/eth/runnable/encode.py b/chainlib/eth/runnable/encode.py
index 35371bf..af7680c 100644
--- a/chainlib/eth/runnable/encode.py
+++ b/chainlib/eth/runnable/encode.py
@@ -45,7 +45,10 @@ from chainlib.error import SignerMissingException
 from chainlib.chain import ChainSpec
 from chainlib.eth.runnable.util import decode_for_puny_humans
 from chainlib.eth.jsonrpc import to_blockheight_param
+<<<<<<< HEAD
 from chainlib.eth.address import to_checksum_address
+=======
+>>>>>>> d6b258f2140f5ce555f765a90c14a65a5f3fc6de
 
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.WARNING)
 logg = logging.getLogger()
diff --git a/chainlib/eth/runnable/gas.py b/chainlib/eth/runnable/gas.py
index 02001f1..8cfd57c 100644
--- a/chainlib/eth/runnable/gas.py
+++ b/chainlib/eth/runnable/gas.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ from chainlib.eth.gas import Gas
 from chainlib.eth.gas import balance as gas_balance
 from chainlib.chain import ChainSpec
 from chainlib.eth.runnable.util import decode_for_puny_humans
+from chainlib.eth.address import is_same_address
 import chainlib.eth.cli
 
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.WARNING)
@@ -73,27 +74,27 @@ def main():
     g = Gas(chain_spec, signer=signer, gas_oracle=rpc.get_gas_oracle(), nonce_oracle=rpc.get_nonce_oracle())
 
     recipient = to_checksum_address(config.get('_RECIPIENT'))
-    if not config.true('_UNSAFE') and recipient != add_0x(config.get('_RECIPIENT')):
+    if not config.true('_UNSAFE') and is_checksum_address(recipient):
         raise ValueError('invalid checksum address')
 
     logg.info('gas transfer from {} to {} value {}'.format(signer_address, recipient, value))
     if logg.isEnabledFor(logging.DEBUG):
         try:
-            sender_balance = balance(signer_address, rpc.id_generator)
+            sender_balance = balance(add_0x(signer_address), rpc.id_generator)
             recipient_balance = balance(add_0x(recipient), rpc.id_generator)
             logg.debug('sender {} balance before: {}'.format(signer_address, sender_balance))
             logg.debug('recipient {} balance before: {}'.format(recipient, recipient_balance))
         except urllib.error.URLError:
             pass
      
-    (tx_hash_hex, o) = g.create(signer_address, recipient, value, data=config.get('_DATA'), id_generator=rpc.id_generator)
+    (tx_hash_hex, o) = g.create(signer_address, add_0x(recipient), value, data=config.get('_DATA'), id_generator=rpc.id_generator)
 
     if send:
         conn.do(o)
         if block_last:
             r = conn.wait(tx_hash_hex)
             if logg.isEnabledFor(logging.DEBUG):
-                sender_balance = balance(signer_address, rpc.id_generator)
+                sender_balance = balance(add_0x(signer_address), rpc.id_generator)
                 recipient_balance = balance(add_0x(recipient), rpc.id_generator)
                 logg.debug('sender {} balance after: {}'.format(signer_address, sender_balance))
                 logg.debug('recipient {} balance after: {}'.format(recipient, recipient_balance))