diff --git a/client/remote_client.go b/client/remote_client.go
index d8370eeef..aa8a4aea5 100644
--- a/client/remote_client.go
+++ b/client/remote_client.go
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ func NewClient(addr string, mustConnect bool) (*remoteClient, error) {
 	}
 	cli.QuitService = *NewQuitService(nil, "remoteClient", cli)
 	_, err := cli.Start() // Just start it, it's confusing for callers to remember to start.
+	return cli, err
 	if mustConnect {
 		return nil, err
 	} else {
diff --git a/tests/test_counter.go b/tests/test_counter.go
index 44adc3207..2d60543e1 100644
--- a/tests/test_counter.go
+++ b/tests/test_counter.go
@@ -100,9 +100,6 @@ func commit(client tmspcli.Client, hashExp []byte) {
 func appendTx(client tmspcli.Client, txBytes []byte, codeExp types.CodeType, dataExp []byte) {
 	res := client.AppendTxSync(txBytes)
 	code, data, log := res.Code, res.Data, res.Log
-	if res.IsErr() {
-		panic(Fmt("appending tx %X: %v\nlog: %v", txBytes, log))
-	}
 	if code != codeExp {
 		panic(Fmt("AppendTx response code was unexpected. Got %v expected %v. Log: %v",
 			code, codeExp, log))