diff --git a/lib/server.js b/lib/server.js
index 9f86c2e..6a3a367 100644
--- a/lib/server.js
+++ b/lib/server.js
@@ -1680,10 +1680,6 @@ WalletService.prototype._validateAndSanitizeTxOpts = function(wallet, opts, cb)
 
   async.series([
 
-    function(next) {
-      if (!checkRequired(opts, ['outputs'], next)) return;
-      next();
-    },
     function(next) {
       // feePerKb is required unless inputs & fee are specified
       if (!_.isNumber(opts.feePerKb) && !(opts.inputs && _.isNumber(opts.fee)))
@@ -1755,6 +1751,10 @@ WalletService.prototype._validateAndSanitizeTxOpts = function(wallet, opts, cb)
 WalletService.prototype.createTx = function(opts, cb) {
   var self = this;
 
+  opts = opts || {};
+
+  if (!checkRequired(opts, ['outputs'], cb)) return;
+
   function getChangeAddress(wallet, cb) {
     if (wallet.singleAddress) {
       self.storage.fetchAddresses(self.walletId, function(err, addresses) {
diff --git a/test/integration/server.js b/test/integration/server.js
index 3541a30..75b98c3 100644
--- a/test/integration/server.js
+++ b/test/integration/server.js
@@ -2294,6 +2294,21 @@ describe('Wallet service', function() {
           });
         });
       });
+      it('should fail to create a tx without outputs param', function(done) {
+        helpers.stubUtxos(server, wallet, [1, 2], function() {
+          var txOpts = {
+            toAddress: '18PzpUFkFZE8zKWUPvfykkTxmB9oMR8qP7',
+            amount: 0.8 * 1e8,
+            message: 'some message',
+            feePerKb: 123e2,
+          };
+          server.createTx(txOpts, function(err, tx) {
+            should.exist(err);
+            should.not.exist(tx);
+            done();
+          });
+        });
+      });
       it('should be able to publish a temporary tx proposal', function(done) {
         helpers.stubUtxos(server, wallet, [1, 2], function() {
           var txOpts = {