diff --git a/BIP32.js b/BIP32.js
index 6efb73a..878a1ac 100644
--- a/BIP32.js
+++ b/BIP32.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ var imports = require('soop').imports();
 var base58 = imports.base58 || require('base58-native').base58;
 var coinUtil = imports.coinUtil || require('./util/util');
 var Key = imports.Key || require('./Key');
+var Point = imports.Point || require('./Point');
 var bignum = imports.bignum || require('bignum');
 var crypto = require('crypto');
 var networks = require('./networks');
@@ -266,31 +267,20 @@ BIP32.prototype.derive_child = function(i) {
     var ir = hash.slice(32, 64);
 
     // Ki = (IL + kpar)*G = IL*G + Kpar
-    var key = new Key();
-    key.private = il.toBuffer({size: 32});
-    key.regenerateSync();
-    key.compressed = false;
+    var ilGkey = new Key();
+    ilGkey.private = il.toBuffer({size: 32});
+    ilGkey.regenerateSync();
+    var ilG = Point.fromKey(ilGkey);
     var oldkey = new Key();
     oldkey.public = this.eckey.public;
-    oldkey.compressed = false;
-    var newpub = Key.addUncompressed(key.public, oldkey.public);
-
-    var eckey = new Key();
-    eckey.compressed = false;
-    eckey.public = newpub;
-    if (eckey.public === null) {
-      console.log('invalid public key');
-      return this.derive_child(i+1);
-    }
-    eckey.compressed = true;
+    var Kpar = Point.fromKey(oldkey);
+    var newpub = Point.add(ilG, Kpar).toKey().public;
 
     ret = new BIP32();
     ret.chain_code = new Buffer(ir);
 
     var eckey = new Key();
-    eckey.compressed = false;
     eckey.public = newpub; 
-    eckey.compressed = true;
     ret.eckey = eckey;
     ret.has_private_key = false;
   }
diff --git a/Point.js b/Point.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b028e37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Point.js
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+var imports = require('soop').imports();
+var Key = imports.Key || require('./Key');
+var bignum = imports.bignum || require('bignum');
+
+//a point on the secp256k1 curve
+//x and y are bignums
+var Point = function(x, y) {
+  this.x = x;
+  this.y = y;
+};
+
+Point.add = function(p1, p2) {
+
+  //node
+  if (process.versions) {
+    var key1 = p1.toKey();
+    key1.compressed = false;
+    var key2 = p2.toKey();
+    key2.compressed = false;
+    var pubKey = Key.addUncompressed(key1.public, key2.public);
+    var key = new Key();
+    key.compressed = false;
+    key.public = pubKey;
+    key.compressed = true;
+    return Point.fromKey(key);
+  }
+
+  //browser
+  else {
+  }
+
+};
+
+//convert the public key of a Key into a Point
+Point.fromKey = function(key) {
+
+  //node
+  if (process.versions) {
+    var point = new Point();
+    var pubKeyBuf = new Buffer(key.public);
+    var key2 = new Key();
+    key2.compressed = key.compressed;
+    key2.public = pubKeyBuf;
+    key2.compressed = false;
+    point.x = bignum.fromBuffer(key2.public.slice(1, 33), {size: 32});
+    point.y = bignum.fromBuffer(key2.public.slice(33, 65), {size: 32});
+    return point;
+  }
+
+  //browser
+  else {
+  }
+};
+
+//convert the Point into the Key containing a compressed public key
+Point.prototype.toKey = function() {
+  
+  //node
+  if (process.versions) {
+    var xbuf = this.x.toBuffer({size: 32});
+    var ybuf = this.y.toBuffer({size: 32});
+    var key = new Key();
+    key.compressed = false;
+    var prefix = new Buffer([0x04]);
+    key.public = Buffer.concat([prefix, xbuf, ybuf]); //this is probably wrong
+    key.compressed = true;
+    return key;
+  }
+
+  //browser
+  else {
+  }
+};
+
+module.exports = require('soop')(Point);