diff --git a/programs/cleos/httpc.cpp b/programs/cleos/httpc.cpp
index 98426e98d7cb63af73c73a1bbb78aaa1b038a2b8..e043f70dcca4f8e1517031f1e8178dfa88123a08 100644
--- a/programs/cleos/httpc.cpp
+++ b/programs/cleos/httpc.cpp
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@
 #include <istream>
 #include <ostream>
 #include <string>
+#include <regex>
 #include <boost/asio.hpp>
+#include <boost/asio/ssl.hpp>
 #include <fc/variant.hpp>
 #include <fc/io/json.hpp>
 #include <eosio/chain/exceptions.hpp>
@@ -22,132 +24,155 @@
 
 using boost::asio::ip::tcp;
 namespace eosio { namespace client { namespace http {
-   fc::variant call( const std::string& server, uint16_t port,
-                     const std::string& path,
-                     const fc::variant& postdata ) {
-   try {
-      std::string postjson;
-      if( !postdata.is_null() )
-         postjson = fc::json::to_string( postdata );
+   void do_connect(tcp::socket& sock, const std::string& server, const std::string& port) {
+      // Get a list of endpoints corresponding to the server name.
+      tcp::resolver resolver(sock.get_io_service());
+      tcp::resolver::query query(server, port);
+      boost::asio::connect(sock, resolver.resolve(query));
+   }
 
-      boost::asio::io_service io_service;
+   template<class T>
+   std::string do_txrx(T& socket, boost::asio::streambuf& request_buff, unsigned int& status_code) {
+      // Send the request.
+      boost::asio::write(socket, request_buff);
+
+      // Read the response status line. The response streambuf will automatically
+      // grow to accommodate the entire line. The growth may be limited by passing
+      // a maximum size to the streambuf constructor.
+      boost::asio::streambuf response;
+      boost::asio::read_until(socket, response, "\r\n");
+
+      // Check that response is OK.
+      std::istream response_stream(&response);
+      std::string http_version;
+      response_stream >> http_version;
+      response_stream >> status_code;
+      std::string status_message;
+      std::getline(response_stream, status_message);
+      FC_ASSERT( !(!response_stream || http_version.substr(0, 5) != "HTTP/"), "Invalid Response" );
+
+      // Read the response headers, which are terminated by a blank line.
+      boost::asio::read_until(socket, response, "\r\n\r\n");
+
+      // Process the response headers.
+      std::string header;
+      int response_content_length = -1;
+      std::regex clregex(R"xx(^content-length:\s+(\d+))xx", std::regex_constants::icase);
+      while (std::getline(response_stream, header) && header != "\r") {
+         std::smatch match;
+         if(std::regex_search(header, match, clregex))
+            response_content_length = std::stoi(match[1]);
+      }
+      FC_ASSERT(response_content_length >= 0, "Invalid content-length response");
 
-      // Get a list of endpoints corresponding to the server name.
-      tcp::resolver resolver(io_service);
-      tcp::resolver::query query(server, std::to_string(port) );
-      tcp::resolver::iterator endpoint_iterator = resolver.resolve(query);
-      tcp::resolver::iterator end;
-
-      while( endpoint_iterator != end ) {
-         // Try each endpoint until we successfully establish a connection.
-         tcp::socket socket(io_service);
-         try {
-            boost::asio::connect(socket, endpoint_iterator);
-            endpoint_iterator = end;
-         } catch( std::exception& e ) {
-            ++endpoint_iterator;
-            if( endpoint_iterator != end ) {
-               continue;
-            } else {
-               throw connection_exception(fc::log_messages{
-                  FC_LOG_MESSAGE( error, "Connection to ${server}:${port}${path} is refused",
-                                  ("server", server)("port", port)("path", path) ),
-                  FC_LOG_MESSAGE( error, e.what())
-               });
-            }
-         }
-
-         // Form the request. We specify the "Connection: close" header so that the
-         // server will close the socket after transmitting the response. This will
-         // allow us to treat all data up until the EOF as the content.
-         boost::asio::streambuf request;
-         std::ostream request_stream(&request);
-         request_stream << "POST " << path << " HTTP/1.0\r\n";
-         request_stream << "Host: " << server << "\r\n";
-         request_stream << "content-length: " << postjson.size() << "\r\n";
-         request_stream << "Accept: */*\r\n";
-         request_stream << "Connection: close\r\n\r\n";
-         request_stream << postjson;
-
-         // Send the request.
-         boost::asio::write(socket, request);
-
-         // Read the response status line. The response streambuf will automatically
-         // grow to accommodate the entire line. The growth may be limited by passing
-         // a maximum size to the streambuf constructor.
-         boost::asio::streambuf response;
-         boost::asio::read_until(socket, response, "\r\n");
-
-         // Check that response is OK.
-         std::istream response_stream(&response);
-         std::string http_version;
-         response_stream >> http_version;
-         unsigned int status_code;
-         response_stream >> status_code;
-         std::string status_message;
-         std::getline(response_stream, status_message);
-         FC_ASSERT( !(!response_stream || http_version.substr(0, 5) != "HTTP/"), "Invalid Response" );
-
-         // Read the response headers, which are terminated by a blank line.
-         boost::asio::read_until(socket, response, "\r\n\r\n");
-
-         // Process the response headers.
-         std::string header;
-         while (std::getline(response_stream, header) && header != "\r")
-         {
-         //      std::cout << header << "\n";
-         }
-         //      std::cout << "\n";
-
-         std::stringstream re;
-         // Write whatever content we already have to output.
-         if (response.size() > 0)
-            //   std::cout << &response;
-            re << &response;
-
-         // Read until EOF, writing data to output as we go.
-         boost::system::error_code error;
-         while (boost::asio::read(socket, response,
-                                  boost::asio::transfer_at_least(1), error))
-            re << &response;
-
-         if (error != boost::asio::error::eof)
-            throw boost::system::system_error(error);
-
-         //  std::cout << re.str() <<"\n";
-         const auto response_result = fc::json::from_string(re.str());
-         if( status_code == 200 || status_code == 201 || status_code == 202 ) {
-            return response_result;
-         } else if( status_code == 404 ) {
-            // Unknown endpoint
-            if (path.compare(0, chain_func_base.size(), chain_func_base) == 0) {
-               throw chain::missing_chain_api_plugin_exception(FC_LOG_MESSAGE(error, "Chain API plugin is not enabled"));
-            } else if (path.compare(0, wallet_func_base.size(), wallet_func_base) == 0) {
-               throw chain::missing_wallet_api_plugin_exception(FC_LOG_MESSAGE(error, "Wallet is not available"));
-            } else if (path.compare(0, account_history_func_base.size(), account_history_func_base) == 0) {
-               throw chain::missing_account_history_api_plugin_exception(FC_LOG_MESSAGE(error, "Account History API plugin is not enabled"));
-            } else if (path.compare(0, net_func_base.size(), net_func_base) == 0) {
-               throw chain::missing_net_api_plugin_exception(FC_LOG_MESSAGE(error, "Net API plugin is not enabled"));
-            }
-         } else {
-            auto &&error_info = response_result.as<eosio::error_results>().error;
-            // Construct fc exception from error
-            const auto &error_details = error_info.details;
-
-            fc::log_messages logs;
-            for (auto itr = error_details.begin(); itr != error_details.end(); itr++) {
-               const auto& context = fc::log_context(fc::log_level::error, itr->file.data(), itr->line_number, itr->method.data());
-               logs.emplace_back(fc::log_message(context, itr->message));
-            }
-
-            throw fc::exception(logs, error_info.code, error_info.name, error_info.what);
-         }
-
-         FC_ASSERT( status_code == 200, "Error code ${c}\n: ${msg}\n", ("c", status_code)("msg", re.str()) );
+      std::stringstream re;
+      // Write whatever content we already have to output.
+      response_content_length -= response.size();
+      if (response.size() > 0)
+         re << &response;
+
+      boost::asio::read(socket, response, boost::asio::transfer_exactly(response_content_length));
+      re << &response;
+
+      return re.str();
+   }
+
+   fc::variant call( const std::string& server_url,
+                     const std::string& path,
+                     const fc::variant& postdata ) {
+   std::string postjson;
+   if( !postdata.is_null() )
+      postjson = fc::json::to_string( postdata );
+
+   boost::asio::io_service io_service;
+
+   string scheme, server, port, path_prefix;
+
+   //via rfc3986 and modified a bit to suck out the port number
+   //Sadly this doesn't work for ipv6 addresses
+   std::regex rgx(R"xx(^(([^:/?#]+):)?(//([^:/?#]*)(:(\d+))?)?([^?#]*)(\?([^#]*))?(#(.*))?)xx");
+   std::smatch match;
+   if(std::regex_search(server_url.begin(), server_url.end(), match, rgx)) {
+      scheme = match[2];
+      server = match[4];
+      port = match[6];
+      path_prefix = match[7];
+   }
+   if(scheme != "http" && scheme != "https")
+      FC_THROW("Unreconized URL scheme (${s}) in URL \"${u}\"", ("s", scheme)("u", server_url));
+   if(server.empty())
+      FC_THROW("No server parsed from URL \"${u}\"", ("u", server_url));
+   if(port.empty())
+      port = scheme == "http" ? "8888" : "443";
+   boost::trim_right_if(path_prefix, boost::is_any_of("/"));
+
+   boost::asio::streambuf request;
+   std::ostream request_stream(&request);
+   request_stream << "POST " << path_prefix + path << " HTTP/1.0\r\n";
+   request_stream << "Host: " << server << "\r\n";
+   request_stream << "content-length: " << postjson.size() << "\r\n";
+   request_stream << "Accept: */*\r\n";
+   request_stream << "Connection: close\r\n\r\n";
+   request_stream << postjson;
+
+   unsigned int status_code;
+   std::string re;
+
+   if(scheme == "http") {
+      tcp::socket socket(io_service);
+      do_connect(socket, server, port);
+      re = do_txrx(socket, request, status_code);
+   }
+   else { //https
+      boost::asio::ssl::context ssl_context(boost::asio::ssl::context::sslv23_client);
+#if defined( __APPLE__ )
+      //TODO: this is undocumented/not supported; fix with keychain based approach
+      ssl_context.load_verify_file("/private/etc/ssl/cert.pem");
+#elif defined( _WIN32 )
+      FC_THROW("HTTPS on Windows not supported");
+#else
+      ssl_context.set_default_verify_paths();
+#endif
+
+      boost::asio::ssl::stream<boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket> socket(io_service, ssl_context);
+      socket.set_verify_mode(boost::asio::ssl::verify_peer);
+
+      do_connect(socket.next_layer(), server, port);
+      socket.handshake(boost::asio::ssl::stream_base::client);
+      re = do_txrx(socket, request, status_code);
+      //try and do a clean shutdown; but swallow if this fails (other side could have already gave TCP the ax)
+      try {socket.shutdown();} catch(...) {}
+   }
+   
+   const auto response_result = fc::json::from_string(re);
+   if( status_code == 200 || status_code == 201 || status_code == 202 ) {
+      return response_result;
+   } else if( status_code == 404 ) {
+      // Unknown endpoint
+      if (path.compare(0, chain_func_base.size(), chain_func_base) == 0) {
+         throw chain::missing_chain_api_plugin_exception(FC_LOG_MESSAGE(error, "Chain API plugin is not enabled"));
+      } else if (path.compare(0, wallet_func_base.size(), wallet_func_base) == 0) {
+         throw chain::missing_wallet_api_plugin_exception(FC_LOG_MESSAGE(error, "Wallet is not available"));
+      } else if (path.compare(0, account_history_func_base.size(), account_history_func_base) == 0) {
+         throw chain::missing_account_history_api_plugin_exception(FC_LOG_MESSAGE(error, "Account History API plugin is not enabled"));
+      } else if (path.compare(0, net_func_base.size(), net_func_base) == 0) {
+         throw chain::missing_net_api_plugin_exception(FC_LOG_MESSAGE(error, "Net API plugin is not enabled"));
+      }
+   } else {
+      auto &&error_info = response_result.as<eosio::error_results>().error;
+      // Construct fc exception from error
+      const auto &error_details = error_info.details;
+
+      fc::log_messages logs;
+      for (auto itr = error_details.begin(); itr != error_details.end(); itr++) {
+         const auto& context = fc::log_context(fc::log_level::error, itr->file.data(), itr->line_number, itr->method.data());
+         logs.emplace_back(fc::log_message(context, itr->message));
       }
 
-      FC_ASSERT( !"unable to connect" );
-   } FC_CAPTURE_AND_RETHROW()  // error, "Request Path: ${server}:${port}${path}\nRequest Post Data: ${postdata}" ,
-                           // ("server", server)("port", port)("path", path)("postdata", postdata) )
+      throw fc::exception(logs, error_info.code, error_info.name, error_info.what);
+   }
+
+   FC_ASSERT( status_code == 200, "Error code ${c}\n: ${msg}\n", ("c", status_code)("msg", re) );
+   return response_result;
    }
 }}}
diff --git a/programs/cleos/httpc.hpp b/programs/cleos/httpc.hpp
index ffe0cda08a42e63e616ac0f0f26ab647c3be80db..31870bf3937d18de65d1bee6fda1885a8725ac37 100644
--- a/programs/cleos/httpc.hpp
+++ b/programs/cleos/httpc.hpp
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 namespace eosio { namespace client { namespace http {
-   fc::variant call( const std::string& server, uint16_t port,
+   fc::variant call( const std::string& server_url,
                      const std::string& path,
                      const fc::variant& postdata = fc::variant() );
 
diff --git a/programs/cleos/main.cpp b/programs/cleos/main.cpp
index 9cd1713fc984b5cce08b4b62f6d7d9307fdebc92..31106d5b07c8dd3c61443ff3eddd27e1f422e425 100644
--- a/programs/cleos/main.cpp
+++ b/programs/cleos/main.cpp
@@ -22,11 +22,10 @@ Usage: programs/cleos/cleos [OPTIONS] SUBCOMMAND
 
 Options:
   -h,--help                   Print this help message and exit
-  -H,--host TEXT=localhost    the host where nodeos is running
-  -p,--port UINT=8888         the port where nodeos is running
-  --wallet-host TEXT=localhost
-                              the host where keosd is running
-  --wallet-port UINT=8888     the port where keosd is running
+  -u,--url TEXT=http://localhost:8888/
+                              the http/https URL where nodeos is running
+  --wallet-url TEXT=http://localhost:8888/
+                              the http/https URL where keosd is running
   -v,--verbose                output verbose actions on error
 
 Subcommands:
@@ -39,7 +38,8 @@ Subcommands:
   wallet                      Interact with local wallet
   sign                        Sign a transaction
   push                        Push arbitrary transactions to the blockchain
-
+  multisig                    Multisig contract commands
+  
 ```
 To get help with any particular subcommand, run it with no arguments as well:
 ```
@@ -134,13 +134,8 @@ FC_DECLARE_EXCEPTION( localized_exception, 10000000, "an error occured" );
     FC_MULTILINE_MACRO_END \
   )
 
-string program = "eosc";
-string host = "localhost";
-uint32_t port = 8888;
-
-// restricting use of wallet to localhost
-string wallet_host = "localhost";
-uint32_t wallet_port = 8888;
+string url = "http://localhost:8888/";
+string wallet_url = "http://localhost:8888/";
 
 auto   tx_expiration = fc::seconds(30);
 string tx_ref_block_num_or_id;
@@ -194,16 +189,27 @@ vector<chain::permission_level> get_account_permissions(const vector<string>& pe
 }
 
 template<typename T>
-fc::variant call( const std::string& server, uint16_t port,
+fc::variant call( const std::string& url,
                   const std::string& path,
-                  const T& v ) { return eosio::client::http::call( server, port, path, fc::variant(v) ); }
+                  const T& v ) {
+   try {
+      return eosio::client::http::call( url, path, fc::variant(v) );
+   }
+   catch(boost::system::system_error& e) {
+      if(url == ::url)
+         std::cerr << localized("Failed to connect to nodeos at ${u}; is nodeos running?", ("u", url)) << std::endl;
+      else if(url == ::wallet_url)
+         std::cerr << localized("Failed to connect to keosd at ${u}; is keosd running?", ("u", url)) << std::endl;
+      throw connection_exception(fc::log_messages{FC_LOG_MESSAGE(error, e.what())});
+   }
+}
 
 template<typename T>
 fc::variant call( const std::string& path,
-                  const T& v ) { return eosio::client::http::call( host, port, path, fc::variant(v) ); }
+                  const T& v ) { return ::call( url, path, fc::variant(v) ); }
 
 eosio::chain_apis::read_only::get_info_results get_info() {
-  return call(host, port, get_info_func ).as<eosio::chain_apis::read_only::get_info_results>();
+   return ::call(url, get_info_func, fc::variant()).as<eosio::chain_apis::read_only::get_info_results>();
 }
 
 string generate_nonce_value() {
@@ -228,18 +234,18 @@ chain::action generate_nonce() {
 fc::variant determine_required_keys(const signed_transaction& trx) {
    // TODO better error checking
    //wdump((trx));
-   const auto& public_keys = call(wallet_host, wallet_port, wallet_public_keys);
+   const auto& public_keys = call(wallet_url, wallet_public_keys);
    auto get_arg = fc::mutable_variant_object
            ("transaction", (transaction)trx)
            ("available_keys", public_keys);
-   const auto& required_keys = call(host, port, get_required_keys, get_arg);
+   const auto& required_keys = call(get_required_keys, get_arg);
    return required_keys["required_keys"];
 }
 
 void sign_transaction(signed_transaction& trx, fc::variant& required_keys) {
    // TODO determine chain id
    fc::variants sign_args = {fc::variant(trx), required_keys, fc::variant(chain_id_type{})};
-   const auto& signed_trx = call(wallet_host, wallet_port, wallet_sign_trx, sign_args);
+   const auto& signed_trx = call(wallet_url, wallet_sign_trx, sign_args);
    trx = signed_trx.as<signed_transaction>();
 }
 
@@ -528,6 +534,13 @@ struct set_action_permission_subcommand {
    }
 };
 
+CLI::callback_t old_host_port = [](CLI::results_t) {
+   std::cerr << localized("Host and port options (-H, --wallet-host, etc.) have been replaced with -u/--url and --wallet-url\n"
+                          "Use for example -u http://localhost:8888 or --url https://example.invalid/\n");
+   exit(1);
+   return false;
+};
+
 int main( int argc, char** argv ) {
    fc::path binPath = argv[0];
    if (binPath.is_relative()) {
@@ -540,10 +553,13 @@ int main( int argc, char** argv ) {
 
    CLI::App app{"Command Line Interface to EOSIO Client"};
    app.require_subcommand();
-   app.add_option( "-H,--host", host, localized("the host where nodeos is running"), true );
-   app.add_option( "-p,--port", port, localized("the port where nodeos is running"), true );
-   app.add_option( "--wallet-host", wallet_host, localized("the host where keosd is running"), true );
-   app.add_option( "--wallet-port", wallet_port, localized("the port where keosd is running"), true );
+   app.add_option( "-H,--host", old_host_port, localized("the host where nodeos is running") )->group("hidden");
+   app.add_option( "-p,--port", old_host_port, localized("the port where nodeos is running") )->group("hidden");
+   app.add_option( "--wallet-host", old_host_port, localized("the host where keosd is running") )->group("hidden");
+   app.add_option( "--wallet-port", old_host_port, localized("the port where keosd is running") )->group("hidden");
+
+   app.add_option( "-u,--url", url, localized("the http/https URL where nodeos is running"), true );
+   app.add_option( "--wallet-url", wallet_url, localized("the http/https URL where keosd is running"), true );
 
    bool verbose_errors = false;
    app.add_flag( "-v,--verbose", verbose_errors, localized("output verbose actions on error"));
@@ -923,27 +939,27 @@ int main( int argc, char** argv ) {
    auto connect = net->add_subcommand("connect", localized("start a new connection to a peer"), false);
    connect->add_option("host", new_host, localized("The hostname:port to connect to."))->required();
    connect->set_callback([&] {
-      const auto& v = call(host, port, net_connect, new_host);
+      const auto& v = call(net_connect, new_host);
       std::cout << fc::json::to_pretty_string(v) << std::endl;
    });
 
    auto disconnect = net->add_subcommand("disconnect", localized("close an existing connection"), false);
    disconnect->add_option("host", new_host, localized("The hostname:port to disconnect from."))->required();
    disconnect->set_callback([&] {
-      const auto& v = call(host, port, net_disconnect, new_host);
+      const auto& v = call(net_disconnect, new_host);
       std::cout << fc::json::to_pretty_string(v) << std::endl;
    });
 
    auto status = net->add_subcommand("status", localized("status of existing connection"), false);
    status->add_option("host", new_host, localized("The hostname:port to query status of connection"))->required();
    status->set_callback([&] {
-      const auto& v = call(host, port, net_status, new_host);
+      const auto& v = call(net_status, new_host);
       std::cout << fc::json::to_pretty_string(v) << std::endl;
    });
 
    auto connections = net->add_subcommand("peers", localized("status of all existing peers"), false);
    connections->set_callback([&] {
-      const auto& v = call(host, port, net_connections, new_host);
+      const auto& v = call(net_connections, new_host);
       std::cout << fc::json::to_pretty_string(v) << std::endl;
    });
 
@@ -957,7 +973,7 @@ int main( int argc, char** argv ) {
    auto createWallet = wallet->add_subcommand("create", localized("Create a new wallet locally"), false);
    createWallet->add_option("-n,--name", wallet_name, localized("The name of the new wallet"), true);
    createWallet->set_callback([&wallet_name] {
-      const auto& v = call(wallet_host, wallet_port, wallet_create, wallet_name);
+      const auto& v = call(wallet_url, wallet_create, wallet_name);
       std::cout << localized("Creating wallet: ${wallet_name}", ("wallet_name", wallet_name)) << std::endl;
       std::cout << localized("Save password to use in the future to unlock this wallet.") << std::endl;
       std::cout << localized("Without password imported keys will not be retrievable.") << std::endl;
@@ -968,8 +984,7 @@ int main( int argc, char** argv ) {
    auto openWallet = wallet->add_subcommand("open", localized("Open an existing wallet"), false);
    openWallet->add_option("-n,--name", wallet_name, localized("The name of the wallet to open"));
    openWallet->set_callback([&wallet_name] {
-      /*const auto& v = */call(wallet_host, wallet_port, wallet_open, wallet_name);
-      //std::cout << fc::json::to_pretty_string(v) << std::endl;
+      call(wallet_url, wallet_open, wallet_name);
       std::cout << localized("Opened: ${wallet_name}", ("wallet_name", wallet_name)) << std::endl;
    });
 
@@ -977,17 +992,14 @@ int main( int argc, char** argv ) {
    auto lockWallet = wallet->add_subcommand("lock", localized("Lock wallet"), false);
    lockWallet->add_option("-n,--name", wallet_name, localized("The name of the wallet to lock"));
    lockWallet->set_callback([&wallet_name] {
-      /*const auto& v = */call(wallet_host, wallet_port, wallet_lock, wallet_name);
+      call(wallet_url, wallet_lock, wallet_name);
       std::cout << localized("Locked: ${wallet_name}", ("wallet_name", wallet_name)) << std::endl;
-      //std::cout << fc::json::to_pretty_string(v) << std::endl;
-
    });
 
    // lock all wallets
    auto locakAllWallets = wallet->add_subcommand("lock_all", localized("Lock all unlocked wallets"), false);
    locakAllWallets->set_callback([] {
-      /*const auto& v = */call(wallet_host, wallet_port, wallet_lock_all);
-      //std::cout << fc::json::to_pretty_string(v) << std::endl;
+      call(wallet_url, wallet_lock_all);
       std::cout << localized("Locked All Wallets") << std::endl;
    });
 
@@ -1006,9 +1018,8 @@ int main( int argc, char** argv ) {
 
 
       fc::variants vs = {fc::variant(wallet_name), fc::variant(wallet_pw)};
-      /*const auto& v = */call(wallet_host, wallet_port, wallet_unlock, vs);
+      call(wallet_url, wallet_unlock, vs);
       std::cout << localized("Unlocked: ${wallet_name}", ("wallet_name", wallet_name)) << std::endl;
-      //std::cout << fc::json::to_pretty_string(v) << std::endl;
    });
 
    // import keys into wallet
@@ -1026,23 +1037,22 @@ int main( int argc, char** argv ) {
       public_key_type pubkey = wallet_key.get_public_key();
 
       fc::variants vs = {fc::variant(wallet_name), fc::variant(wallet_key)};
-      const auto& v = call(wallet_host, wallet_port, wallet_import_key, vs);
+      call(wallet_url, wallet_import_key, vs);
       std::cout << localized("imported private key for: ${pubkey}", ("pubkey", std::string(pubkey))) << std::endl;
-      //std::cout << fc::json::to_pretty_string(v) << std::endl;
    });
 
    // list wallets
    auto listWallet = wallet->add_subcommand("list", localized("List opened wallets, * = unlocked"), false);
    listWallet->set_callback([] {
       std::cout << localized("Wallets:") << std::endl;
-      const auto& v = call(wallet_host, wallet_port, wallet_list);
+      const auto& v = call(wallet_url, wallet_list);
       std::cout << fc::json::to_pretty_string(v) << std::endl;
    });
 
    // list keys
    auto listKeys = wallet->add_subcommand("keys", localized("List of private keys from all unlocked wallets in wif format."), false);
    listKeys->set_callback([] {
-      const auto& v = call(wallet_host, wallet_port, wallet_list_keys);
+      const auto& v = call(wallet_url, wallet_list_keys);
       std::cout << fc::json::to_pretty_string(v) << std::endl;
    });
 
@@ -1415,18 +1425,9 @@ int main( int argc, char** argv ) {
    } catch (const explained_exception& e) {
       return 1;
    } catch (connection_exception& e) {
-      auto errorString = e.to_detail_string();
-         if (errorString.find(fc::json::to_string(port)) != string::npos) {
-            std::cerr << localized("Failed to connect to nodeos at ${ip}:${port}; is nodeos running?", ("ip", host)("port", port)) << std::endl;
-         } else if (errorString.find(fc::json::to_string(wallet_port)) != string::npos) {
-            std::cerr << localized("Failed to connect to keosd at ${ip}:${port}; is keosd running?", ("ip", wallet_host)("port", wallet_port)) << std::endl;
-         } else {
-            std::cerr << localized("Failed to connect") << std::endl;
-         }
-
-         if (verbose_errors) {
-            elog("connect error: ${e}", ("e", errorString));
-         }
+      if (verbose_errors) {
+         elog("connect error: ${e}", ("e", e.to_detail_string()));
+      }
    } catch (const fc::exception& e) {
       // attempt to extract the error code if one is present
       if (!print_recognized_errors(e, verbose_errors)) {