diff --git a/account/account.go b/account/account.go
index fb65ecd66..15333258c 100644
--- a/account/account.go
+++ b/account/account.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func AccountEncoder(o interface{}, w io.Writer, n *int64, err *error) {
 	WriteBinary(o.(*Account), w, n, err)
 }
 
-func AccountDecoder(r io.Reader, n *int64, err *error) interface{} {
+func AccountDecoder(r Unreader, n *int64, err *error) interface{} {
 	return ReadBinary(&Account{}, r, n, err)
 }
 
diff --git a/account/privkey.go b/account/privkey.go
index b1b49205f..c220492b6 100644
--- a/account/privkey.go
+++ b/account/privkey.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package account
 
 import (
 	"errors"
-	"io"
 	"reflect"
 
 	"github.com/tendermint/go-ed25519"
@@ -23,8 +22,8 @@ const (
 //-------------------------------------
 // For binary.readReflect
 
-func PrivKeyDecoder(r io.Reader, n *int64, err *error) interface{} {
-	switch t := ReadByte(r, n, err); t {
+func PrivKeyDecoder(r Unreader, n *int64, err *error) interface{} {
+	switch t := PeekByte(r, n, err); t {
 	case PrivKeyTypeEd25519:
 		return ReadBinary(PrivKeyEd25519{}, r, n, err)
 	default:
diff --git a/account/pubkey.go b/account/pubkey.go
index 0d65e4c69..84acb7218 100644
--- a/account/pubkey.go
+++ b/account/pubkey.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package account
 
 import (
 	"errors"
-	"io"
 	"reflect"
 
 	"github.com/tendermint/go-ed25519"
@@ -26,8 +25,8 @@ const (
 //-------------------------------------
 // for binary.readReflect
 
-func PubKeyDecoder(r io.Reader, n *int64, err *error) interface{} {
-	switch t := ReadByte(r, n, err); t {
+func PubKeyDecoder(r Unreader, n *int64, err *error) interface{} {
+	switch t := PeekByte(r, n, err); t {
 	case PubKeyTypeNil:
 		return PubKeyNil{}
 	case PubKeyTypeEd25519:
diff --git a/account/signature.go b/account/signature.go
index 691b6d68e..a6c6b83cc 100644
--- a/account/signature.go
+++ b/account/signature.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package account
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"reflect"
 
 	"github.com/tendermint/go-ed25519"
@@ -23,8 +22,8 @@ const (
 //-------------------------------------
 // for binary.readReflect
 
-func SignatureDecoder(r io.Reader, n *int64, err *error) interface{} {
-	switch t := ReadByte(r, n, err); t {
+func SignatureDecoder(r Unreader, n *int64, err *error) interface{} {
+	switch t := PeekByte(r, n, err); t {
 	case SignatureTypeEd25519:
 		return ReadBinary(SignatureEd25519{}, r, n, err)
 	default:
diff --git a/binary/README.md b/binary/README.md
index 7824c045b..cd8d7f2c1 100644
--- a/binary/README.md
+++ b/binary/README.md
@@ -123,8 +123,9 @@ func GreeterEncoder(o interface{}, w io.Writer, n *int64, err *error) {
 	}
 }
 
-func GreeterDecoder(r io.Reader, n *int64, err *error) interface{} {
-	switch t := ReadByte(r, n, err); t {
+func GreeterDecoder(r *bytes.Reader, n *int64, err *error) interface{} {
+	// We must peek the type byte because ReadBinary() expects it.
+	switch t := PeekByte(r, n, err); t {
 	case GreeterTypeDog:
 		return ReadBinary(Dog{}, r, n, err)
 	case GreeterTypeCat:
diff --git a/binary/binary.go b/binary/binary.go
index 8e19bc973..7db7175be 100644
--- a/binary/binary.go
+++ b/binary/binary.go
@@ -5,7 +5,12 @@ import (
 	"reflect"
 )
 
-func ReadBinary(o interface{}, r io.Reader, n *int64, err *error) interface{} {
+type Unreader interface {
+	io.Reader
+	UnreadByte() error
+}
+
+func ReadBinary(o interface{}, r Unreader, n *int64, err *error) interface{} {
 	rv, rt := reflect.ValueOf(o), reflect.TypeOf(o)
 	if rv.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
 		readReflect(rv.Elem(), rt.Elem(), r, n, err)
diff --git a/binary/codec.go b/binary/codec.go
index a7f384a23..954a50cff 100644
--- a/binary/codec.go
+++ b/binary/codec.go
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 type Encoder func(o interface{}, w io.Writer, n *int64, err *error)
-type Decoder func(r io.Reader, n *int64, err *error) interface{}
+type Decoder func(r Unreader, n *int64, err *error) interface{}
 type Comparator func(o1 interface{}, o2 interface{}) int
 
 type Codec struct {
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ func BasicCodecEncoder(o interface{}, w io.Writer, n *int64, err *error) {
 	}
 }
 
-func BasicCodecDecoder(r io.Reader, n *int64, err *error) (o interface{}) {
+func BasicCodecDecoder(r Unreader, n *int64, err *error) (o interface{}) {
 	type_ := ReadByte(r, n, err)
 	switch type_ {
 	case typeByte:
diff --git a/binary/int.go b/binary/int.go
index a63c9bb63..015b83a02 100644
--- a/binary/int.go
+++ b/binary/int.go
@@ -18,6 +18,16 @@ func ReadByte(r io.Reader, n *int64, err *error) byte {
 	return buf[0]
 }
 
+// NOTE: may end up advancing the reader upon error.
+func PeekByte(r Unreader, n *int64, err *error) byte {
+	byte_ := ReadByte(r, n, err)
+	if *err != nil {
+		return 0
+	}
+	*err = r.UnreadByte()
+	return byte_
+}
+
 // Int8
 
 func WriteInt8(i int8, w io.Writer, n *int64, err *error) {
diff --git a/binary/reflect.go b/binary/reflect.go
index 0c1a75324..1f1b56fbe 100644
--- a/binary/reflect.go
+++ b/binary/reflect.go
@@ -47,34 +47,44 @@ func GetTypeInfo(rt reflect.Type) *TypeInfo {
 // NOTE: not goroutine safe, so only call upon program init.
 func RegisterType(info *TypeInfo) *TypeInfo {
 
-	// Register the type info
-	typeInfos[info.Type] = info
-
 	// Also register the underlying struct's info, if info.Type is a pointer.
 	// Or, if info.Type is not a pointer, register the pointer.
+	var rt, ptrRt reflect.Type
 	if info.Type.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
-		rt := info.Type.Elem()
-		typeInfos[rt] = info
+		rt, ptrRt = info.Type.Elem(), info.Type
 	} else {
-		ptrRt := reflect.PtrTo(info.Type)
-		typeInfos[ptrRt] = info
+		rt, ptrRt = info.Type, reflect.PtrTo(info.Type)
 	}
 
+	// Register the type info
+	typeInfos[rt] = info
+	typeInfos[ptrRt] = info
+
 	// See if the type implements HasTypeByte
-	if info.Type.Implements(reflect.TypeOf((*HasTypeByte)(nil)).Elem()) {
-		zero := reflect.Zero(info.Type)
+	if rt.Implements(reflect.TypeOf((*HasTypeByte)(nil)).Elem()) {
+		zero := reflect.Zero(rt)
 		typeByte := zero.Interface().(HasTypeByte).TypeByte()
 		if info.HasTypeByte && info.TypeByte != typeByte {
-			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Type %v expected TypeByte of %X", info.Type, typeByte))
+			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Type %v expected TypeByte of %X", rt, typeByte))
+		} else {
+			info.HasTypeByte = true
+			info.TypeByte = typeByte
+		}
+	} else if ptrRt.Implements(reflect.TypeOf((*HasTypeByte)(nil)).Elem()) {
+		zero := reflect.Zero(ptrRt)
+		typeByte := zero.Interface().(HasTypeByte).TypeByte()
+		if info.HasTypeByte && info.TypeByte != typeByte {
+			panic(fmt.Sprintf("Type %v expected TypeByte of %X", ptrRt, typeByte))
+		} else {
+			info.HasTypeByte = true
+			info.TypeByte = typeByte
 		}
-		info.HasTypeByte = true
-		info.TypeByte = typeByte
 	}
 
 	return info
 }
 
-func readReflect(rv reflect.Value, rt reflect.Type, r io.Reader, n *int64, err *error) {
+func readReflect(rv reflect.Value, rt reflect.Type, r Unreader, n *int64, err *error) {
 
 	// First, create a new struct if rv is nil pointer.
 	if rt.Kind() == reflect.Ptr && rv.IsNil() {
diff --git a/block/part_set.go b/block/part_set.go
index 046b95430..ecf3e36a2 100644
--- a/block/part_set.go
+++ b/block/part_set.go
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@ import (
 	"crypto/sha256"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 
+	. "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/binary"
 	. "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/common"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/merkle"
 )
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ func (ps *PartSet) IsComplete() bool {
 	return ps.count == ps.total
 }
 
-func (ps *PartSet) GetReader() io.Reader {
+func (ps *PartSet) GetReader() Unreader {
 	if !ps.IsComplete() {
 		panic("Cannot GetReader() on incomplete PartSet")
 	}
diff --git a/block/store.go b/block/store.go
index fd4654610..aca540948 100644
--- a/block/store.go
+++ b/block/store.go
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 
 	. "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/binary"
 	. "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/common"
@@ -41,7 +40,7 @@ func (bs *BlockStore) Height() uint {
 	return bs.height
 }
 
-func (bs *BlockStore) GetReader(key []byte) io.Reader {
+func (bs *BlockStore) GetReader(key []byte) Unreader {
 	bytez := bs.db.Get(key)
 	if bytez == nil {
 		return nil
diff --git a/block/tx.go b/block/tx.go
index f84b4faf0..6e719d5c1 100644
--- a/block/tx.go
+++ b/block/tx.go
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ const (
 //-------------------------------------
 // for binary.readReflect
 
-func TxDecoder(r io.Reader, n *int64, err *error) interface{} {
-	switch t := ReadByte(r, n, err); t {
+func TxDecoder(r Unreader, n *int64, err *error) interface{} {
+	switch t := PeekByte(r, n, err); t {
 	case TxTypeSend:
 		return ReadBinary(&SendTx{}, r, n, err)
 	case TxTypeBond:
diff --git a/consensus/reactor.go b/consensus/reactor.go
index 07365e5ed..c17ce4287 100644
--- a/consensus/reactor.go
+++ b/consensus/reactor.go
@@ -111,10 +111,13 @@ func (conR *ConsensusReactor) Receive(chId byte, peer *p2p.Peer, msgBytes []byte
 	// Get round state
 	rs := conR.conS.GetRoundState()
 	ps := peer.Data.Get(peerStateKey).(*PeerState)
-	_, msg_ := decodeMessage(msgBytes)
-	var err error = nil
-
-	log.Debug("[%X][%v] Receive: %v", chId, peer, msg_)
+	_, msg_, err := decodeMessage(msgBytes)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Warning("[%X] RECEIVE %v: %v ERROR: %v", chId, peer.Connection().RemoteAddress, msg_, err)
+		return
+	}
+	log.Debug("[%X] RECEIVE %v: %v", chId, peer.Connection().RemoteAddress, msg_)
+	log.Debug("[%X] RECEIVE BYTES: %X", chId, msgBytes)
 
 	switch chId {
 	case StateCh:
@@ -219,7 +222,7 @@ func (conR *ConsensusReactor) broadcastNewRoundStepRoutine() {
 
 		// Get seconds since beginning of height.
 		// Due to the condition documented, this is safe.
-		timeElapsed := rs.StartTime.Sub(time.Now())
+		timeElapsed := time.Now().Sub(rs.StartTime)
 
 		// Broadcast NewRoundStepMessage
 		{
@@ -635,26 +638,26 @@ const (
 )
 
 // TODO: check for unnecessary extra bytes at the end.
-func decodeMessage(bz []byte) (msgType byte, msg interface{}) {
-	n, err := new(int64), new(error)
+func decodeMessage(bz []byte) (msgType byte, msg interface{}, err error) {
+	n := new(int64)
 	// log.Debug("decoding msg bytes: %X", bz)
 	msgType = bz[0]
 	r := bytes.NewReader(bz[1:])
 	switch msgType {
 	// Messages for communicating state changes
 	case msgTypeNewRoundStep:
-		msg = ReadBinary(&NewRoundStepMessage{}, r, n, err)
+		msg = ReadBinary(&NewRoundStepMessage{}, r, n, &err)
 	case msgTypeCommitStep:
-		msg = ReadBinary(&CommitStepMessage{}, r, n, err)
+		msg = ReadBinary(&CommitStepMessage{}, r, n, &err)
 	// Messages of data
 	case msgTypeProposal:
-		msg = ReadBinary(&Proposal{}, r, n, err)
+		msg = ReadBinary(&Proposal{}, r, n, &err)
 	case msgTypePart:
-		msg = ReadBinary(&PartMessage{}, r, n, err)
+		msg = ReadBinary(&PartMessage{}, r, n, &err)
 	case msgTypeVote:
-		msg = ReadBinary(&VoteMessage{}, r, n, err)
+		msg = ReadBinary(&VoteMessage{}, r, n, &err)
 	case msgTypeHasVote:
-		msg = ReadBinary(&HasVoteMessage{}, r, n, err)
+		msg = ReadBinary(&HasVoteMessage{}, r, n, &err)
 	default:
 		msg = nil
 	}
diff --git a/merkle/iavl_node.go b/merkle/iavl_node.go
index a29217423..3a1ea6898 100644
--- a/merkle/iavl_node.go
+++ b/merkle/iavl_node.go
@@ -2,8 +2,9 @@ package merkle
 
 import (
 	"crypto/sha256"
-	. "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/binary"
 	"io"
+
+	. "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/binary"
 )
 
 // Node
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ func NewIAVLNode(key interface{}, value interface{}) *IAVLNode {
 	}
 }
 
-func ReadIAVLNode(t *IAVLTree, r io.Reader, n *int64, err *error) *IAVLNode {
+func ReadIAVLNode(t *IAVLTree, r Unreader, n *int64, err *error) *IAVLNode {
 	node := &IAVLNode{}
 
 	// node header & key
diff --git a/p2p/connection.go b/p2p/connection.go
index 58ea68576..84ad5df25 100644
--- a/p2p/connection.go
+++ b/p2p/connection.go
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ func (c *MConnection) Send(chId byte, msg interface{}) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 
-	log.Debug("[%X] Send to %v: %v", chId, c, msg)
+	log.Debug("[%X] SEND %v: %v", chId, c.RemoteAddress, msg)
 	log.Debug("     Bytes: %X", BinaryBytes(msg))
 
 	// Send message to channel.
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ func (c *MConnection) TrySend(chId byte, msg interface{}) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 
-	log.Debug("[%X] TrySend to %v: %v", chId, c, msg)
+	log.Debug("[%X] TRYSEND %v: %v", chId, c.RemoteAddress, msg)
 
 	// Send message to channel.
 	channel, ok := c.channelsIdx[chId]
@@ -407,6 +407,7 @@ FOR_LOOP:
 				Panicf("Unknown channel %X", pkt.ChannelId)
 			}
 			msgBytes := channel.recvMsgPacket(pkt)
+			log.Warning("RECEIVE_MSG_BYTES: %X", msgBytes)
 			if msgBytes != nil {
 				c.onReceive(pkt.ChannelId, msgBytes)
 			}
diff --git a/p2p/peer.go b/p2p/peer.go
index ca8fc2323..d1af20af9 100644
--- a/p2p/peer.go
+++ b/p2p/peer.go
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@ func (p *Peer) IsStopped() bool {
 	return atomic.LoadUint32(&p.stopped) == 1
 }
 
-func (p *Peer) RemoteAddress() *NetAddress {
-	return p.mconn.RemoteAddress
+func (p *Peer) Connection() *MConnection {
+	return p.mconn
 }
 
 func (p *Peer) IsOutbound() bool {
diff --git a/p2p/pex_reactor.go b/p2p/pex_reactor.go
index e8c16728f..bc1642e98 100644
--- a/p2p/pex_reactor.go
+++ b/p2p/pex_reactor.go
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ func (pexR *PEXReactor) Receive(chId byte, src *Peer, msgBytes []byte) {
 		// We received some peer addresses from src.
 		// TODO: prevent abuse.
 		// (We don't want to get spammed with bad peers)
-		srcAddr := src.RemoteAddress()
+		srcAddr := src.Connection().RemoteAddress
 		for _, addr := range msg.(*pexAddrsMessage).Addrs {
 			pexR.book.AddAddress(addr, srcAddr)
 		}
diff --git a/p2p/switch.go b/p2p/switch.go
index d855b51b7..8af3f158c 100644
--- a/p2p/switch.go
+++ b/p2p/switch.go
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ func (sw *Switch) Broadcast(chId byte, msg interface{}) (numSuccess, numFailure
 		return
 	}
 
-	log.Debug("[%X] Broadcast: %v", chId, msg)
+	log.Debug("[%X] BROADCAST: %v", chId, msg)
 	for _, peer := range sw.peers.List() {
 		// XXX XXX Change.
 		// success := peer.TrySend(chId, msg)
diff --git a/state/validator.go b/state/validator.go
index 689e834b5..405518a87 100644
--- a/state/validator.go
+++ b/state/validator.go
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func ValidatorInfoEncoder(o interface{}, w io.Writer, n *int64, err *error) {
 	WriteBinary(o.(*ValidatorInfo), w, n, err)
 }
 
-func ValidatorInfoDecoder(r io.Reader, n *int64, err *error) interface{} {
+func ValidatorInfoDecoder(r Unreader, n *int64, err *error) interface{} {
 	return ReadBinary(&ValidatorInfo{}, r, n, err)
 }
 
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func (vc validatorCodec) Encode(o interface{}, w io.Writer, n *int64, err *error
 	WriteBinary(o.(*Validator), w, n, err)
 }
 
-func (vc validatorCodec) Decode(r io.Reader, n *int64, err *error) interface{} {
+func (vc validatorCodec) Decode(r Unreader, n *int64, err *error) interface{} {
 	return ReadBinary(&Validator{}, r, n, err)
 }