diff --git a/src/net.cpp b/src/net.cpp
index 24cd1f881..66604b1a5 100644
--- a/src/net.cpp
+++ b/src/net.cpp
@@ -604,6 +604,7 @@ void DumpBanlist()
     if (bandb.Write(banmap)) {
         SetBannedSetDirty(false);
     }
+    fprintf(stderr,"%s: Dumping banlist with %lu items\n", __func__, banmap.size());
 
     LogPrint("net", "Flushed %d banned node ips/subnets to banlist.dat  %dms\n",
         banmap.size(), GetTimeMillis() - nStart);
@@ -617,7 +618,6 @@ void CNode::ClearBanned()
         setBannedIsDirty = true;
     }
     DumpBanlist(); //store banlist to disk
-    // uiInterface.BannedListChanged();
 }
 
 
@@ -631,8 +631,10 @@ bool CNode::IsBanned(CNetAddr ip)
             CSubNet subNet = (*it).first;
             CBanEntry banEntry = (*it).second;
 
-            if(subNet.Match(ip) && GetTime() < banEntry.nBanUntil)
+            if(subNet.Match(ip) && GetTime() < banEntry.nBanUntil) {
+                fprintf(stderr,"%s: found banned subnet %s\n", __func__, subNet.ToString().c_str());
                 fResult = true;
+            }
         }
     }
     return fResult;
@@ -664,25 +666,29 @@ void CNode::Ban(const CSubNet& subNet, const BanReason &banReason, int64_t banti
     if (bantimeoffset > 0)
         banEntry.nBanUntil = (sinceUnixEpoch ? 0 : GetTime() )+bantimeoffset;
 
+    fprintf(stderr, "%s: banning %s until %ld with bantimeoffset=%ld sinceUnixEpoch=%d\n", __func__, subNet.ToString().c_str(), banEntry.nBanUntil, bantimeoffset, sinceUnixEpoch);
     {
         LOCK(cs_setBanned);
         if (setBanned[subNet].nBanUntil < banEntry.nBanUntil) {
             setBanned[subNet] = banEntry;
             setBannedIsDirty = true;
-        }
-        else
+        } else {
             return;
+        }
     }
-    // uiInterface.BannedListChanged();
     {
         LOCK(cs_vNodes);
         for (CNode* pnode : vNodes) {
             if (subNet.Match(static_cast<CNetAddr>(pnode->addr)))
+                fprintf(stderr, "%s: disconnecting from banned node %s\n", __func__, pnode->addr.ToString().c_str() );
                 pnode->fDisconnect = true;
         }
     }
-    if(banReason == BanReasonManuallyAdded)
+
+    if(banReason == BanReasonManuallyAdded) {
+        fprintf(stderr,"%s: dumping banlist after manual ban\n", __func__);
         DumpBanlist(); //store banlist to disk immediately if user requested ban
+    }
 }
 
 bool CNode::Unban(const CNetAddr &addr) {
@@ -697,7 +703,6 @@ bool CNode::Unban(const CSubNet &subNet) {
             return false;
         setBannedIsDirty = true;
     }
-    // uiInterface.BannedListChanged();
     DumpBanlist(); //store banlist to disk immediately
     return true;
 }
@@ -720,6 +725,7 @@ void SetBanned(const banmap_t &banMap)
 void SweepBanned()
 {
     int64_t now = GetTime();
+    //fprintf(stderr,"%s: Sweeping banlist\n", __func__);
 
     LOCK(cs_setBanned);
     banmap_t::iterator it = setBanned.begin();
@@ -732,9 +738,9 @@ void SweepBanned()
             setBanned.erase(it++);
             setBannedIsDirty = true;
             LogPrint("net", "%s: Removed banned node ip/subnet from banlist.dat: %s\n", __func__, subNet.ToString());
-        }
-        else
+        } else {
             ++it;
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/rpc/net.cpp b/src/rpc/net.cpp
index 8a4e96113..8b686a6fd 100644
--- a/src/rpc/net.cpp
+++ b/src/rpc/net.cpp
@@ -633,7 +633,7 @@ UniValue setban(const UniValue& params, bool fHelp, const CPubKey& mypk)
         if (isSubnet ? CNode::IsBanned(subNet) : CNode::IsBanned(netAddr))
             throw JSONRPCError(RPC_CLIENT_NODE_ALREADY_ADDED, "Error: IP/Subnet already banned");
 
-        int64_t banTime = 0; //use standard bantime if not specified
+        int64_t banTime = 60*60*24; //use standard bantime if not specified
         if (params.size() >= 3 && !params[2].isNull())
             banTime = params[2].get_int64();
 
@@ -641,14 +641,14 @@ UniValue setban(const UniValue& params, bool fHelp, const CPubKey& mypk)
         if (params.size() == 4 && params[3].isTrue())
             absolute = true;
 
+        fprintf(stderr,"%s: adding manual ban for %s with banTime=%ld absolute=%d isSubnet=%d\n", __func__, isSubnet ? subNet.ToString().c_str() : netAddr.ToString().c_str(),  banTime, absolute, isSubnet);
         isSubnet ? CNode::Ban(subNet, BanReasonManuallyAdded, banTime, absolute) : CNode::Ban(netAddr, BanReasonManuallyAdded, banTime, absolute);
 
         //disconnect possible nodes
-        while(CNode *bannedNode = (isSubnet ? FindNode(subNet) : FindNode(netAddr)))
+        while(CNode *bannedNode = (isSubnet ? FindNode(subNet) : FindNode(netAddr))) {
             bannedNode->fDisconnect = true;
-    }
-    else if(strCommand == "remove")
-    {
+        }
+    } else if(strCommand == "remove") {
         if (!( isSubnet ? CNode::Unban(subNet) : CNode::Unban(netAddr) ))
             throw JSONRPCError(RPC_MISC_ERROR, "Error: Unban failed");
     }