diff --git a/lib/privatekey.js b/lib/privatekey.js
index 01d5bb89b..6f4cae75b 100644
--- a/lib/privatekey.js
+++ b/lib/privatekey.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict';
 
+var _ = require('lodash');
 var Address = require('./address');
 var base58check = require('./encoding/base58check');
 var BN = require('./crypto/bn');
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ var PrivateKey = function PrivateKey(data, network, compressed) {
   };
 
   // detect type of data
-  if (typeof(data) === 'undefined' || data === 'random'){
+  if (_.isUndefined(data)){
     info.bn = PrivateKey._getRandomBN();
   } else if (data instanceof BN) {
     info.bn = data;
diff --git a/test/privatekey.js b/test/privatekey.js
index f3fde3f1a..586ef0d11 100644
--- a/test/privatekey.js
+++ b/test/privatekey.js
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ describe('PrivateKey', function() {
 
   it('should not be able to instantiate because compressed is non-boolean', function() {
     expect(function() {
-      var a = new PrivateKey('random', 'testnet', 'compressed');
+      var a = new PrivateKey(BN(2), 'testnet', 'compressed');
     }).to.throw('Must specify whether the corresponding public key is compressed or not (true or false)');
   });
 
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ describe('PrivateKey', function() {
 
   it('should not be able to instantiate with unknown network', function() {
     expect(function() {
-      var a = new PrivateKey('random', 'unknown');
+      var a = new PrivateKey(BN(2), 'unknown');
     }).to.throw('Must specify the network ("livenet" or "testnet")');
   });