diff --git a/chainlib/eth/settings.py b/chainlib/eth/settings.py
index 0744923..22f9a73 100644
--- a/chainlib/eth/settings.py
+++ b/chainlib/eth/settings.py
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ def process_settings_wallet(settings, config):
     if wallet.get_signer_address() == None and recipient_in != None:
         recipient_in = wallet.from_address(recipient_in)
 
+    recipient_in = strip_0x(recipient_in)
     recipient = to_checksum_address(recipient_in)
     if not config.true('_UNSAFE') and recipient != recipient_in:
         raise ValueError('invalid checksum address: {}'.format(recipient_in))
@@ -104,7 +105,10 @@ def process_settings_data(settings, config):
     except KeyError:
         return settings
 
-    data = add_0x(config.get('_DATA'))
+    if data == None:
+        return settings
+
+    data = add_0x(data)
     settings.set('DATA', data)
     
     return settings
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 22a652e..c9eac55 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -4,4 +4,3 @@ hexathon~=0.1.7
 websocket-client==0.57.0
 potaahto~=0.1.1
 chainlib~=0.3.0
-confini~=0.6.0