diff --git a/src/cc/prices.cpp b/src/cc/prices.cpp
index e6f5db97d..28bfaf848 100644
--- a/src/cc/prices.cpp
+++ b/src/cc/prices.cpp
@@ -471,6 +471,8 @@ int64_t prices_batontxid(uint256 &batontxid,CTransaction bettx,uint256 bettxid)
     int32_t height;
     int32_t retcode;
 
+    batontxid = bettxid; // initially set to the source bet tx
+
     // iterate through batons, adding up vout1 -> addedbets
     while ((retcode = CCgetspenttxid(batontxid, vini, height, bettxid, 1)) == 0) {
 
diff --git a/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp b/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp
index aad8c4c6c..550355cff 100644
--- a/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp
+++ b/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp
@@ -1348,7 +1348,8 @@ UniValue pricesbet(const UniValue& params, bool fHelp)
 UniValue pricesaddfunding(const UniValue& params, bool fHelp)
 {
     if (fHelp || params.size() != 2)
-        throw runtime_error("pricesaddfunding bettxid amount\n");
+        throw runtime_error("pricesaddfunding bettxid amount\n"
+                            "where amount is in satoshis\n");
     LOCK(cs_main);
     UniValue ret(UniValue::VOBJ);
 
@@ -1357,7 +1358,12 @@ UniValue pricesaddfunding(const UniValue& params, bool fHelp)
 
     CAmount txfee = 10000;
     uint256 bettxid = Parseuint256(params[0].get_str().c_str());
+    if( bettxid.IsNull() )
+        throw runtime_error("invalid bettxid\n");
+
     CAmount amount = atoll(params[1].get_str().c_str());
+    if( amount <= 0 )
+        throw runtime_error("invalid amount\n");
 
     return PricesAddFunding(txfee, bettxid, amount);
 }