diff --git a/js/models/network/Async.js b/js/models/network/Async.js
index 29c021cdb..f348f2d7b 100644
--- a/js/models/network/Async.js
+++ b/js/models/network/Async.js
@@ -179,22 +179,28 @@ Network.prototype.iterateNonce = function() {
   return this.networkNonce;
 };
 
-Network.prototype._onMessage = function(enc) {
+Network.prototype.decode = function(enc) {
+  var sender = enc.pubkey;
   var key = this.getKey();
+  var prevnonce = this.networkNonces ? this.networkNonces[sender] : undefined;
+  var opts = {
+    prevnonce: prevnonce
+  };
+  var decoded = AuthMessage.decode(key, enc, opts);
+
+  //if no error thrown in the last step, we can set the copayer's nonce
+  if (!this.networkNonces)
+    this.networkNonces = {};
+  this.networkNonces[sender] = decoded.nonce;
+
+  var payload = decoded.payload;
+  return payload;
+};
+
+Network.prototype._onMessage = function(enc) {
   var sender = enc.pubkey;
   try {
-    var prevnonce = this.networkNonces ? this.networkNonces[sender] : undefined;
-    var opts = {
-      prevnonce: prevnonce
-    };
-    var decoded = AuthMessage.decode(key, enc, opts);
-
-    //if no error thrown in the last step, we can set the copayer's nonce
-    if (!this.networkNonces)
-      this.networkNonces = {};
-    this.networkNonces[sender] = decoded.nonce;
-
-    var payload = decoded.payload;
+    var payload = this.decode(enc);
   } catch (e) {
     this._deletePeer(sender);
     return;
@@ -359,18 +365,22 @@ Network.prototype.send = function(copayerIds, payload, cb) {
   //console.log('sending ' + JSON.stringify(payload));
   copayerIds.forEach(function(copayerId) {
     //console.log('\t to ' + copayerId);
-    self.iterateNonce();
-    var opts = {
-      nonce: self.networkNonce
-    };
-    var copayerIdBuf = new Buffer(copayerId, 'hex');
-    var message = AuthMessage.encode(copayerIdBuf, self.getKey(), payload, opts);
+    var message = self.encode(copayerId, payload);
     self.socket.emit('message', message);
   });
   if (typeof cb === 'function') cb();
 };
 
 
+Network.prototype.encode = function(copayerId, payload) {
+  this.iterateNonce();
+  var opts = {
+    nonce: this.networkNonce
+  };
+  var copayerIdBuf = new Buffer(copayerId, 'hex');
+  var message = AuthMessage.encode(copayerIdBuf, this.getKey(), payload, opts);
+};
+
 Network.prototype.isOnline = function() {
   return !!this.socket;
 };
diff --git a/test/test.network.Async.js b/test/test.network.Async.js
index cf73279de..f6860d7eb 100644
--- a/test/test.network.Async.js
+++ b/test/test.network.Async.js
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ describe('Network / Async', function() {
     it('should not reject data sent from a peer with hijacked pubkey', function() {
       var n = createN();
       n.privkey = key2.private.toString('hex');
+      n.key = null;
 
       var message = {
         type: 'hello',
@@ -151,6 +152,7 @@ describe('Network / Async', function() {
     it('should reject data sent from a peer with hijacked pubkey', function() {
       var n = createN();
       n.privkey = key2.private.toString('hex');
+      n.key = null;
 
       var message = {
         type: 'hello',
@@ -177,8 +179,7 @@ describe('Network / Async', function() {
     it('should not reject data sent from a peer with no previously set nonce but who is setting one now', function() {
       var n = createN();
       n.privkey = key2.private.toString('hex');
-      //n.networkNonces = {};
-      //n.networkNonces[(new bitcore.SIN(key1.public)).toString()] = new Buffer('0000000000000001', 'hex'); //previously used nonce
+      n.key = null;
 
       var message = {
         type: 'hello',
@@ -207,6 +208,7 @@ describe('Network / Async', function() {
     it('should not reject data sent from a peer with a really big new nonce', function() {
       var n = createN();
       n.privkey = key2.private.toString('hex');
+      n.key = null;
       n.networkNonces = {};
       n.networkNonces[(new bitcore.SIN(key1.public)).toString()] = new Buffer('5000000000000001', 'hex'); //previously used nonce
 
@@ -236,6 +238,7 @@ describe('Network / Async', function() {
     it('should not reject data sent from a peer with a really big new nonce', function() {
       var n = createN();
       n.privkey = key2.private.toString('hex');
+      n.key = false;
       n.networkNonces = {};
       n.networkNonces[(new bitcore.SIN(key1.public)).toString()] = new Buffer('5000000000000001', 'hex'); //previously used nonce
 
@@ -265,6 +268,7 @@ describe('Network / Async', function() {
     it('should reject data sent from a peer with an outdated nonce', function() {
       var n = createN();
       n.privkey = key2.private.toString('hex');
+      n.key = null;
       n.networkNonces = {};
       n.networkNonces[(new bitcore.SIN(key1.public)).toString()] = new Buffer('0000000000000002', 'hex'); //previously used nonce
 
@@ -294,6 +298,7 @@ describe('Network / Async', function() {
     it('should reject data sent from a peer with a really big outdated nonce', function() {
       var n = createN();
       n.privkey = key2.private.toString('hex');
+      n.key = null;
       n.networkNonces = {};
       n.networkNonces[(new bitcore.SIN(key1.public)).toString()] = new Buffer('5000000000000002', 'hex'); //previously used nonce