diff --git a/cmd/ethereum/flags.go b/cmd/ethereum/flags.go
index f829744dc9..e0fbbb0086 100644
--- a/cmd/ethereum/flags.go
+++ b/cmd/ethereum/flags.go
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ var (
 	StartRpc        bool
 	StartWebSockets bool
 	RpcPort         int
+	WsPort          int
 	NatType         string
 	PMPGateway      string
 	OutboundPort    string
@@ -96,6 +97,7 @@ func Init() {
 	flag.StringVar(&PMPGateway, "pmp", "", "Gateway IP for PMP")
 	flag.IntVar(&MaxPeer, "maxpeer", 30, "maximum desired peers")
 	flag.IntVar(&RpcPort, "rpcport", 8080, "port to start json-rpc server on")
+	flag.IntVar(&WsPort, "wsport", 40404, "port to start websocket rpc server on")
 	flag.BoolVar(&StartRpc, "rpc", false, "start rpc server")
 	flag.BoolVar(&StartWebSockets, "ws", false, "start websocket server")
 	flag.BoolVar(&NonInteractive, "y", false, "non-interactive mode (say yes to confirmations)")
diff --git a/cmd/ethereum/main.go b/cmd/ethereum/main.go
index b816c678e7..92dbf5a6f1 100644
--- a/cmd/ethereum/main.go
+++ b/cmd/ethereum/main.go
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	if StartWebSockets {
-		utils.StartWebSockets(ethereum)
+		utils.StartWebSockets(ethereum, WsPort)
 	}
 
 	utils.StartEthereum(ethereum, UseSeed)
diff --git a/cmd/utils/cmd.go b/cmd/utils/cmd.go
index 13fbc7c64a..437e0c037c 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/cmd.go
@@ -39,8 +39,9 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/miner"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
 	rpchttp "github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rpc/http"
+	rpcws "github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rpc/websocket"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/state"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/websocket"
+	// "github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/websocket"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/xeth"
 )
 
@@ -201,11 +202,18 @@ func StartRpc(ethereum *eth.Ethereum, RpcPort int) {
 	}
 }
 
-func StartWebSockets(eth *eth.Ethereum) {
+func StartWebSockets(eth *eth.Ethereum, wsPort int) {
 	clilogger.Infoln("Starting WebSockets")
 
-	sock := websocket.NewWebSocketServer(eth)
-	go sock.Serv()
+	// sock := websocket.NewWebSocketServer(eth)
+	// go sock.Serv()
+	var err error
+	eth.WsServer, err = rpcws.NewWebSocketServer(eth, wsPort)
+	if err != nil {
+		clilogger.Errorf("Could not start RPC interface (port %v): %v", wsPort, err)
+	} else {
+		go eth.WsServer.Start()
+	}
 }
 
 var gminer *miner.Miner
diff --git a/eth/backend.go b/eth/backend.go
index fbe080618b..ab30a1b389 100644
--- a/eth/backend.go
+++ b/eth/backend.go
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ type Ethereum struct {
 	blockSub event.Subscription
 
 	RpcServer  rpc.RpcServer
+	WsServer   rpc.RpcServer
 	keyManager *crypto.KeyManager
 
 	clientIdentity p2p.ClientIdentity
@@ -276,6 +277,9 @@ func (s *Ethereum) Stop() {
 	if s.RpcServer != nil {
 		s.RpcServer.Stop()
 	}
+	if s.WsServer != nil {
+		s.WsServer.Stop()
+	}
 	s.txPool.Stop()
 	s.eventMux.Stop()
 	s.blockPool.Stop()