diff --git a/crypto_dev_signer/error.py b/crypto_dev_signer/error.py
index ef6a02f..9022a3d 100644
--- a/crypto_dev_signer/error.py
+++ b/crypto_dev_signer/error.py
@@ -4,3 +4,7 @@ class UnknownAccountError(Exception):
 
 class TransactionRevertError(Exception):
     pass
+
+
+class NetworkError(Exception):
+    pass
diff --git a/crypto_dev_signer/eth/helper/tx.py b/crypto_dev_signer/eth/helper/tx.py
index 6651a6c..0fbb586 100644
--- a/crypto_dev_signer/eth/helper/tx.py
+++ b/crypto_dev_signer/eth/helper/tx.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import logging
 
 # local imports
 from crypto_dev_signer.helper import TxExecutor
+from crypto_dev_signer.error import NetworkError
 
 logg = logging.getLogger()
 logging.getLogger('web3').setLevel(logging.CRITICAL)
@@ -30,7 +31,14 @@ class EthTxExecutor(TxExecutor):
 
 
     def dispatcher(self, tx):
-        return self.w3.eth.sendRawTransaction(tx)
+        error_object = None
+        try:
+            tx_hash = self.w3.eth.sendRawTransaction(tx)
+        except ValueError as e:
+            error_object = e.args[0]
+            logg.error('node could not intepret rlp {}'.format(tx))
+        if error_object != None:
+            raise NetworkError(error_object)
 
 
     def reporter(self, tx):
diff --git a/crypto_dev_signer/runnable/signer.py b/crypto_dev_signer/runnable/signer.py
index aada7d1..036468a 100755
--- a/crypto_dev_signer/runnable/signer.py
+++ b/crypto_dev_signer/runnable/signer.py
@@ -165,14 +165,14 @@ def process_input(j):
     return (rpc_id, methods[m](p))
 
 
-def start_server_lo(spec):
+def start_server_tcp(spec):
     s = socket.socket(family=socket.AF_INET, type=socket.SOCK_STREAM)
     s.bind(spec)
     logg.debug('created tcp socket {}'.format(spec))
     start_server(s)
 
 
-def start_server_ipc(socket_path):
+def start_server_unix(socket_path):
     socket_dir = os.path.dirname(socket_path)
     try:
         fi = os.stat(socket_dir)
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ def start_server_ipc(socket_path):
     logg.debug('created unix ipc socket {}'.format(socket_path))
     start_server(s)
 
+
 def start_server(s):
     s.listen(10)
     logg.debug('server started')
@@ -251,9 +252,9 @@ def main():
         if len(socket_spec) == 2:
             host = socket_spec[0]
             port = int(socket_spec[1])
-            start_server_lo((host, port))
+            start_server_tcp((host, port))
         else:
-            start_server_ipc(socket_path)
+            start_server_unix(socket_path)
         sys.exit(0)
    
     (rpc_id, response) = process_input(arg)
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 084b2be..fddd67b 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ f.close()
 
 setup(
         name="crypto-dev-signer",
-        version="0.4.13b11",
+        version="0.4.13b12",
         description="A signer and keystore daemon and library for cryptocurrency software development",
         author="Louis Holbrook",
         author_email="dev@holbrook.no",
diff --git a/test/test_helper.py b/test/test_helper.py
index f83ed6e..9495f88 100644
--- a/test/test_helper.py
+++ b/test/test_helper.py
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ class TestHelper(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_eth_helper(self):
         backend = MockEthTxBackend()
         w3 = web3.Web3(web3.Web3.HTTPProvider('http://localhost:8545'))
-        executor = EthTxExecutor(w3, self.address_hex, self.signer, 8996)
+        executor = EthTxExecutor(w3, self.address_hex, self.signer, 1337)
 
         tx_ish = {'from': self.address_hex}
         #executor.sign_and_send([backend.builder, backend.builder_two])