diff --git a/ethcore/src/executive.rs b/ethcore/src/executive.rs
index 9aa3bcf9b..12bc71bb5 100644
--- a/ethcore/src/executive.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/executive.rs
@@ -727,7 +727,7 @@ mod tests {
 			gas: U256::from(100_000),
 			gas_price: U256::zero(),
 			nonce: U256::zero()
-		}.fake_sign();
+		}.invalid_sign();
 		let mut state_result = get_temp_state();
 		let mut state = state_result.reference_mut();
 		let mut info = EnvInfo::default();
diff --git a/ethcore/src/transaction.rs b/ethcore/src/transaction.rs
index a51824494..02507da21 100644
--- a/ethcore/src/transaction.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/transaction.rs
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ impl Transaction {
 
 	/// Useful for test incorrectly signed transactions.
 	#[cfg(test)]
-	pub fn fake_sign(self) -> SignedTransaction {
+	pub fn invalid_sign(self) -> SignedTransaction {
 		SignedTransaction {
 			unsigned: self,
 			r: U256::zero(),
@@ -145,6 +145,18 @@ impl Transaction {
 		}
 	}
 
+	/// Specify the sender; this won't survive the serialize/deserialize process, but can be cloned.
+	pub fn fake_sign(self, from: Address) -> SignedTransaction {
+		SignedTransaction {
+			unsigned: self,
+			r: U256::zero(),
+			s: U256::zero(),
+			v: 0,
+			hash: Cell::new(None),
+			sender: Cell::new(Some(from)),
+		}
+	}
+
 	/// Get the transaction cost in gas for the given params.
 	pub fn gas_required_for(is_create: bool, data: &[u8], schedule: &Schedule) -> u64 {
 		data.iter().fold(
@@ -342,3 +354,19 @@ fn signing() {
 	}.sign(&key.secret());
 	assert_eq!(Address::from(key.public().sha3()), t.sender().unwrap());
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn fake_signing() {
+	let t = Transaction {
+		action: Action::Create,
+		nonce: U256::from(42),
+		gas_price: U256::from(3000),
+		gas: U256::from(50_000),
+		value: U256::from(1),
+		data: b"Hello!".to_vec()
+	}.fake_sign(Address::from(0x69));
+	assert_eq!(Address::from(0x69), t.sender().unwrap());
+
+	let t = t.clone();
+	assert_eq!(Address::from(0x69), t.sender().unwrap());
+}
diff --git a/rpc/src/v1/impls/eth.rs b/rpc/src/v1/impls/eth.rs
index 13cc08996..a68fc91fd 100644
--- a/rpc/src/v1/impls/eth.rs
+++ b/rpc/src/v1/impls/eth.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ use jsonrpc_core::*;
 use util::numbers::*;
 use util::sha3::*;
 use util::rlp::{encode, UntrustedRlp, View};
-use util::crypto::KeyPair;
 use ethcore::client::*;
 use ethcore::block::IsBlock;
 use ethcore::views::*;
@@ -168,33 +167,16 @@ impl<C, S, A, M, EM> EthClient<C, S, A, M, EM>
 		}
 	}
 
-	fn sign_call(client: &Arc<C>, accounts: &Arc<A>, request: CallRequest) -> Option<SignedTransaction> {
-		match request.from {
-			Some(ref from) => {
-				let transaction = EthTransaction {
-					nonce: request.nonce.unwrap_or_else(|| client.nonce(from)),
-					action: request.to.map_or(Action::Create, Action::Call),
-					gas: request.gas.unwrap_or_else(default_gas),
-					gas_price: request.gas_price.unwrap_or_else(default_gas_price),
-					value: request.value.unwrap_or_else(U256::zero),
-					data: request.data.map_or_else(Vec::new, |d| d.to_vec())
-				};
-
-				accounts.account_secret(from).ok().map(|secret| transaction.sign(&secret))
-			},
-			None => {
-				let transaction = EthTransaction {
-					nonce: request.nonce.unwrap_or_else(U256::zero),
-					action: request.to.map_or(Action::Create, Action::Call),
-					gas: request.gas.unwrap_or_else(default_gas),
-					gas_price: request.gas_price.unwrap_or_else(default_gas_price),
-					value: request.value.unwrap_or_else(U256::zero),
-					data: request.data.map_or_else(Vec::new, |d| d.to_vec())
-				};
-
-				KeyPair::create().ok().map(|kp| transaction.sign(kp.secret()))
-			}
-		}
+	fn sign_call(client: &Arc<C>, request: CallRequest) -> SignedTransaction {
+		let from = request.from.unwrap_or(Address::zero());
+		EthTransaction {
+			nonce: request.nonce.unwrap_or_else(|| client.nonce(&from)),
+			action: request.to.map_or(Action::Create, Action::Call),
+			gas: request.gas.unwrap_or_else(default_gas),
+			gas_price: request.gas_price.unwrap_or_else(default_gas_price),
+			value: request.value.unwrap_or_else(U256::zero),
+			data: request.data.map_or_else(Vec::new, |d| d.to_vec())
+		}.fake_sign(from)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -533,12 +515,8 @@ impl<C, S, A, M, EM> Eth for EthClient<C, S, A, M, EM>
 	fn call(&self, params: Params) -> Result<Value, Error> {
 		from_params_discard_second(params).and_then(|(request, )| {
 			let client = take_weak!(self.client);
-			let accounts = take_weak!(self.accounts);
-			let signed = Self::sign_call(&client, &accounts, request);
-			let output = signed.map(|tx| client.call(&tx)
-				.map(|e| Bytes::new(e.output))
-				.unwrap_or(Bytes::default()));
-
+			let signed = Self::sign_call(&client, request);
+			let output = client.call(&signed).map(|e| Bytes(e.output)).unwrap_or(Bytes::new(vec![]));
 			to_value(&output)
 		})
 	}
@@ -546,13 +524,9 @@ impl<C, S, A, M, EM> Eth for EthClient<C, S, A, M, EM>
 	fn estimate_gas(&self, params: Params) -> Result<Value, Error> {
 		from_params_discard_second(params).and_then(|(request, )| {
 			let client = take_weak!(self.client);
-			let accounts = take_weak!(self.accounts);
-			let signed = Self::sign_call(&client, &accounts, request);
-			let output = signed.map(|tx| client.call(&tx)
-				.map(|e| e.gas_used + e.refunded)
-				.unwrap_or(U256::zero()));
-
-			to_value(&output)
+			let signed = Self::sign_call(&client, request);
+			let used = client.call(&signed).map(|res| res.gas_used + res.refunded).unwrap_or(From::from(0));
+			to_value(&used)
 		})
 	}
 }