diff --git a/js/models/network/WebRTC.js b/js/models/network/WebRTC.js
index 86f86d26e..bfd2ad10a 100644
--- a/js/models/network/WebRTC.js
+++ b/js/models/network/WebRTC.js
@@ -383,6 +383,8 @@ Network.prototype._decode = function(key, encoded) {
 };
 
 Network.prototype._sendToOne = function(copayerId, payload, cb) {
+  if (!Buffer.isBuffer(payload))
+    throw new Error('payload must be a buffer');
   var peerId = this.peerFromCopayer(copayerId);
   if (peerId !== this.peerId) {
     var dataConn = this.connections[peerId];
@@ -413,7 +415,8 @@ Network.prototype.send = function(copayerIds, payload, cb) {
   copayerIds.forEach(function(copayerId) {
     var copayerIdBuf = new Buffer(copayerId, 'hex');
     var encPayload = self._encode(copayerIdBuf, self.getKey(), payloadBuf);
-    self._sendToOne(copayerId, encPayload, function() {
+    var enc = new Buffer(JSON.stringify(encPayload));
+    self._sendToOne(copayerId, enc, function() {
       if (++i === l && typeof cb === 'function') cb();
     });
   });
diff --git a/test/test.network.WebRTC.js b/test/test.network.WebRTC.js
index a818937e7..451773e37 100644
--- a/test/test.network.WebRTC.js
+++ b/test/test.network.WebRTC.js
@@ -121,7 +121,8 @@ describe('Network / WebRTC', function() {
       key.regenerateSync();
 
       var copayerId = key.public.toString('hex');
-      n._sendToOne = function(a1, encPayload, cb) {
+      n._sendToOne = function(a1, enc, cb) {
+        var encPayload = JSON.parse(enc.toString());
         encPayload.sig.length.should.be.greaterThan(0);
         cb();
       };