diff --git a/app/app_test.go b/app/app_test.go
index 38aa990cd..9656190c8 100644
--- a/app/app_test.go
+++ b/app/app_test.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"testing"
 
-	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
@@ -83,17 +82,10 @@ func (at *appTest) reset() {
 	require.True(at.t, resabci.IsOK(), resabci)
 }
 
-func getBalance(key basecoin.Actor, state state.KVStore) (coin.Coins, error) {
-	var acct coin.Account
-	k := stack.PrefixedKey(coin.NameCoin, key.Bytes())
-	v := state.Get(k)
-	// empty if no data
-	if len(v) == 0 {
-		return nil, nil
-	}
-	// otherwise read it
-	err := wire.ReadBinaryBytes(v, &acct)
-	return acct.Coins, errors.WithStack(err)
+func getBalance(key basecoin.Actor, store state.KVStore) (coin.Coins, error) {
+	cspace := stack.PrefixedStore(coin.NameCoin, store)
+	acct, err := coin.GetAccount(cspace, key)
+	return acct.Coins, err
 }
 
 func getAddr(addr []byte, state state.KVStore) (coin.Coins, error) {
diff --git a/cmd/basecli/commands/query.go b/cmd/basecli/commands/query.go
index aba5fbf55..3d5b4fb06 100644
--- a/cmd/basecli/commands/query.go
+++ b/cmd/basecli/commands/query.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin/modules/auth"
 	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin/modules/coin"
+	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin/stack"
 )
 
 // AccountQueryCmd - command to query an account
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ func doAccountQuery(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	key := coin.NewAccountant("").MakeKey(auth.SigPerm(addr))
+	key := stack.PrefixedKey(coin.NameCoin, auth.SigPerm(addr).Bytes())
 
 	acc := coin.Account{}
 	proof, err := proofcmd.GetAndParseAppProof(key, &acc)
diff --git a/docs/guide/counter/cmd/countercli/commands/query.go b/docs/guide/counter/cmd/countercli/commands/query.go
index be0c50265..489a8a01d 100644
--- a/docs/guide/counter/cmd/countercli/commands/query.go
+++ b/docs/guide/counter/cmd/countercli/commands/query.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	proofcmd "github.com/tendermint/light-client/commands/proofs"
 
 	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin/docs/guide/counter/plugins/counter"
+	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin/stack"
 )
 
 //CounterQueryCmd - CLI command to query the counter state
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ var CounterQueryCmd = &cobra.Command{
 }
 
 func counterQueryCmd(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-	key := counter.StateKey()
+	key := stack.PrefixedKey(counter.NameCounter, counter.StateKey())
 
 	var cp counter.State
 	proof, err := proofcmd.GetAndParseAppProof(key, &cp)
diff --git a/docs/guide/counter/plugins/counter/counter.go b/docs/guide/counter/plugins/counter/counter.go
index 0bf38f362..168886160 100644
--- a/docs/guide/counter/plugins/counter/counter.go
+++ b/docs/guide/counter/plugins/counter/counter.go
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ type State struct {
 
 // StateKey - store key for the counter state
 func StateKey() []byte {
-	return []byte(NameCounter + "/state")
+	return []byte("state")
 }
 
 // LoadState - retrieve the counter state from the store
diff --git a/stack/prefixstore.go b/stack/prefixstore.go
index cc0c5807f..f6934d6e7 100644
--- a/stack/prefixstore.go
+++ b/stack/prefixstore.go
@@ -20,26 +20,35 @@ func (p prefixStore) Get(key []byte) (value []byte) {
 }
 
 // stateSpace will unwrap any prefixStore and then add the prefix
+//
+// this can be used by the middleware and dispatcher to isolate one space,
+// then unwrap and isolate another space
 func stateSpace(store state.KVStore, app string) state.KVStore {
 	// unwrap one-level if wrapped
 	if pstore, ok := store.(prefixStore); ok {
 		store = pstore.store
 	}
-	// wrap it with the prefix
-	prefix := makePrefix(app)
+	return PrefixedStore(app, store)
+}
+
+// PrefixedStore allows one to create an isolated state-space for a given
+// app prefix, but it cannot easily be unwrapped
+//
+// This is useful for tests or utilities that have access to the global
+// state to check individual app spaces.  Individual apps should not be able
+// to use this to read each other's space
+func PrefixedStore(app string, store state.KVStore) state.KVStore {
+	prefix := append([]byte(app), byte(0))
 	return prefixStore{prefix, store}
 }
 
-func makePrefix(app string) []byte {
-	return append([]byte(app), byte(0))
-}
-
-// PrefixedKey gives us the absolute path to a key that is embedded in an
-// application-specific state-space.
+// PrefixedKey returns the absolute path to a given key in a particular
+// app's state-space
 //
 // This is useful for tests or utilities that have access to the global
 // state to check individual app spaces.  Individual apps should not be able
 // to use this to read each other's space
 func PrefixedKey(app string, key []byte) []byte {
-	return append(makePrefix(app), key...)
+	prefix := append([]byte(app), byte(0))
+	return append(prefix, key...)
 }