diff --git a/beacon_chain/eth2_json_rpc_serialization.nim b/beacon_chain/eth2_json_rpc_serialization.nim
index ad6045ad1..7a128c76a 100644
--- a/beacon_chain/eth2_json_rpc_serialization.nim
+++ b/beacon_chain/eth2_json_rpc_serialization.nim
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import
 
 proc fromJson*(n: JsonNode, argName: string, result: var ValidatorPubKey) =
   n.kind.expect(JString, argName)
-  result = ValidatorPubKey.fromHex(n.getStr()).tryGet()
+  result = ValidatorPubKey.fromHex(n.getStr()).tryGet().initPubKey()
 
 proc `%`*(pubkey: ValidatorPubKey): JsonNode =
   result = newJString($initPubKey(pubkey))
diff --git a/beacon_chain/validator_client.nim b/beacon_chain/validator_client.nim
index 763ed7096..48f6875ba 100644
--- a/beacon_chain/validator_client.nim
+++ b/beacon_chain/validator_client.nim
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ programMain:
 
     # load all the validators from the data dir into memory
     for curr in vc.config.validatorKeys:
-      vc.attachedValidators.addLocalValidator(curr.toPubKey, curr)
+      vc.attachedValidators.addLocalValidator(curr.toPubKey.initPubKey, curr)
 
     waitFor vc.client.connect($vc.config.rpcAddress, Port(vc.config.rpcPort))
     info "Connected to BN",