diff --git a/rlp/decode.go b/rlp/decode.go
index 7d95af02bc..712d9fcf18 100644
--- a/rlp/decode.go
+++ b/rlp/decode.go
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ type Decoder interface {
 // To decode into a Go string, the input must be an RLP string. The
 // bytes are taken as-is and will not necessarily be valid UTF-8.
 //
-// To decode into an integer type, the input must also be an RLP
+// To decode into an unsigned integer type, the input must also be an RLP
 // string. The bytes are interpreted as a big endian representation of
 // the integer. If the RLP string is larger than the bit size of the
 // type, Decode will return an error. Decode also supports *big.Int.
@@ -66,8 +66,9 @@ type Decoder interface {
 //	[]interface{}, for RLP lists
 //	[]byte, for RLP strings
 //
-// Non-empty interface types are not supported, nor are bool, float32,
-// float64, maps, channel types and functions.
+// Non-empty interface types are not supported, nor are booleans,
+// signed integers, floating point numbers, maps, channels and
+// functions.
 func Decode(r io.Reader, val interface{}) error {
 	return NewStream(r).Decode(val)
 }
@@ -81,37 +82,58 @@ func (err decodeError) Error() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("rlp: %s for %v", err.msg, err.typ)
 }
 
-func makeNumDecoder(typ reflect.Type) decoder {
-	kind := typ.Kind()
-	switch {
-	case kind <= reflect.Int64:
-		return decodeInt
-	case kind <= reflect.Uint64:
-		return decodeUint
-	default:
-		panic("fallthrough")
+func wrapStreamError(err error, typ reflect.Type) error {
+	switch err {
+	case ErrExpectedList:
+		return decodeError{"expected input list", typ}
+	case ErrExpectedString:
+		return decodeError{"expected input string or byte", typ}
+	case errUintOverflow:
+		return decodeError{"input string too long", typ}
+	case errNotAtEOL:
+		return decodeError{"input list has too many elements", typ}
 	}
+	return err
 }
 
-func decodeInt(s *Stream, val reflect.Value) error {
-	typ := val.Type()
-	num, err := s.uint(typ.Bits())
-	if err == errUintOverflow {
-		return decodeError{"input string too long", typ}
-	} else if err != nil {
-		return err
+var (
+	decoderInterface = reflect.TypeOf(new(Decoder)).Elem()
+	bigInt           = reflect.TypeOf(big.Int{})
+)
+
+func makeDecoder(typ reflect.Type) (dec decoder, err error) {
+	kind := typ.Kind()
+	switch {
+	case typ.Implements(decoderInterface):
+		return decodeDecoder, nil
+	case kind != reflect.Ptr && reflect.PtrTo(typ).Implements(decoderInterface):
+		return decodeDecoderNoPtr, nil
+	case typ.AssignableTo(reflect.PtrTo(bigInt)):
+		return decodeBigInt, nil
+	case typ.AssignableTo(bigInt):
+		return decodeBigIntNoPtr, nil
+	case isUint(kind):
+		return decodeUint, nil
+	case kind == reflect.String:
+		return decodeString, nil
+	case kind == reflect.Slice || kind == reflect.Array:
+		return makeListDecoder(typ)
+	case kind == reflect.Struct:
+		return makeStructDecoder(typ)
+	case kind == reflect.Ptr:
+		return makePtrDecoder(typ)
+	case kind == reflect.Interface && typ.NumMethod() == 0:
+		return decodeInterface, nil
+	default:
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("rlp: type %v is not RLP-serializable", typ)
 	}
-	val.SetInt(int64(num))
-	return nil
 }
 
 func decodeUint(s *Stream, val reflect.Value) error {
 	typ := val.Type()
 	num, err := s.uint(typ.Bits())
-	if err == errUintOverflow {
-		return decodeError{"input string too big", typ}
-	} else if err != nil {
-		return err
+	if err != nil {
+		return wrapStreamError(err, val.Type())
 	}
 	val.SetUint(num)
 	return nil
@@ -120,7 +142,7 @@ func decodeUint(s *Stream, val reflect.Value) error {
 func decodeString(s *Stream, val reflect.Value) error {
 	b, err := s.Bytes()
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return wrapStreamError(err, val.Type())
 	}
 	val.SetString(string(b))
 	return nil
@@ -133,7 +155,7 @@ func decodeBigIntNoPtr(s *Stream, val reflect.Value) error {
 func decodeBigInt(s *Stream, val reflect.Value) error {
 	b, err := s.Bytes()
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return wrapStreamError(err, val.Type())
 	}
 	i := val.Interface().(*big.Int)
 	if i == nil {
@@ -144,8 +166,6 @@ func decodeBigInt(s *Stream, val reflect.Value) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-const maxInt = int(^uint(0) >> 1)
-
 func makeListDecoder(typ reflect.Type) (decoder, error) {
 	etype := typ.Elem()
 	if etype.Kind() == reflect.Uint8 && !reflect.PtrTo(etype).Implements(decoderInterface) {
@@ -159,55 +179,41 @@ func makeListDecoder(typ reflect.Type) (decoder, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	var maxLen = maxInt
+
 	if typ.Kind() == reflect.Array {
-		maxLen = typ.Len()
+		return func(s *Stream, val reflect.Value) error {
+			return decodeListArray(s, val, etypeinfo.decoder)
+		}, nil
 	}
-	dec := func(s *Stream, val reflect.Value) error {
-		return decodeList(s, val, etypeinfo.decoder, maxLen)
-	}
-	return dec, nil
+	return func(s *Stream, val reflect.Value) error {
+		return decodeListSlice(s, val, etypeinfo.decoder)
+	}, nil
 }
 
-// decodeList decodes RLP list elements into slices and arrays.
-//
-// The approach here is stolen from package json, although we differ
-// in the semantics for arrays. package json discards remaining
-// elements that would not fit into the array. We generate an error in
-// this case because we'd be losing information.
-func decodeList(s *Stream, val reflect.Value, elemdec decoder, maxelem int) error {
+func decodeListSlice(s *Stream, val reflect.Value, elemdec decoder) error {
 	size, err := s.List()
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return wrapStreamError(err, val.Type())
 	}
 	if size == 0 {
-		if val.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
-			val.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(val.Type(), 0, 0))
-		} else {
-			zero(val, 0)
-		}
+		val.Set(reflect.MakeSlice(val.Type(), 0, 0))
 		return s.ListEnd()
 	}
 
 	i := 0
-	for {
-		if i > maxelem {
-			return decodeError{"input list has too many elements", val.Type()}
+	for ; ; i++ {
+		// grow slice if necessary
+		if i >= val.Cap() {
+			newcap := val.Cap() + val.Cap()/2
+			if newcap < 4 {
+				newcap = 4
+			}
+			newv := reflect.MakeSlice(val.Type(), val.Len(), newcap)
+			reflect.Copy(newv, val)
+			val.Set(newv)
 		}
-		if val.Kind() == reflect.Slice {
-			// grow slice if necessary
-			if i >= val.Cap() {
-				newcap := val.Cap() + val.Cap()/2
-				if newcap < 4 {
-					newcap = 4
-				}
-				newv := reflect.MakeSlice(val.Type(), val.Len(), newcap)
-				reflect.Copy(newv, val)
-				val.Set(newv)
-			}
-			if i >= val.Len() {
-				val.SetLen(i + 1)
-			}
+		if i >= val.Len() {
+			val.SetLen(i + 1)
 		}
 		// decode into element
 		if err := elemdec(s, val.Index(i)); err == EOL {
@@ -215,26 +221,49 @@ func decodeList(s *Stream, val reflect.Value, elemdec decoder, maxelem int) erro
 		} else if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		i++
 	}
 	if i < val.Len() {
-		if val.Kind() == reflect.Array {
-			// zero the rest of the array.
-			zero(val, i)
-		} else {
-			val.SetLen(i)
-		}
+		val.SetLen(i)
 	}
 	return s.ListEnd()
 }
 
+func decodeListArray(s *Stream, val reflect.Value, elemdec decoder) error {
+	size, err := s.List()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if size == 0 {
+		zero(val, 0)
+		return s.ListEnd()
+	}
+
+	// The approach here is stolen from package json, although we differ
+	// in the semantics for arrays. package json discards remaining
+	// elements that would not fit into the array. We generate an error in
+	// this case because we'd be losing information.
+	vlen := val.Len()
+	i := 0
+	for ; i < vlen; i++ {
+		if err := elemdec(s, val.Index(i)); err == EOL {
+			break
+		} else if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	if i < vlen {
+		zero(val, i)
+	}
+	return wrapStreamError(s.ListEnd(), val.Type())
+}
+
 func decodeByteSlice(s *Stream, val reflect.Value) error {
 	kind, _, err := s.Kind()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	if kind == List {
-		return decodeList(s, val, decodeUint, maxInt)
+		return decodeListSlice(s, val, decodeUint)
 	}
 	b, err := s.Bytes()
 	if err == nil {
@@ -251,14 +280,14 @@ func decodeByteArray(s *Stream, val reflect.Value) error {
 	switch kind {
 	case Byte:
 		if val.Len() == 0 {
-			return decodeError{"input string too big", val.Type()}
+			return decodeError{"input string too long", val.Type()}
 		}
 		bv, _ := s.Uint()
 		val.Index(0).SetUint(bv)
 		zero(val, 1)
 	case String:
 		if uint64(val.Len()) < size {
-			return decodeError{"input string too big", val.Type()}
+			return decodeError{"input string too long", val.Type()}
 		}
 		slice := val.Slice(0, int(size)).Interface().([]byte)
 		if err := s.readFull(slice); err != nil {
@@ -266,14 +295,15 @@ func decodeByteArray(s *Stream, val reflect.Value) error {
 		}
 		zero(val, int(size))
 	case List:
-		return decodeList(s, val, decodeUint, val.Len())
+		return decodeListArray(s, val, decodeUint)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
 func zero(val reflect.Value, start int) {
 	z := reflect.Zero(val.Type().Elem())
-	for i := start; i < val.Len(); i++ {
+	end := val.Len()
+	for i := start; i < end; i++ {
 		val.Index(i).Set(z)
 	}
 }
@@ -296,7 +326,7 @@ func makeStructDecoder(typ reflect.Type) (decoder, error) {
 	}
 	dec := func(s *Stream, val reflect.Value) (err error) {
 		if _, err = s.List(); err != nil {
-			return err
+			return wrapStreamError(err, typ)
 		}
 		for _, f := range fields {
 			err = f.info.decoder(s, val.Field(f.index))
@@ -307,10 +337,7 @@ func makeStructDecoder(typ reflect.Type) (decoder, error) {
 				return err
 			}
 		}
-		if err = s.ListEnd(); err == errNotAtEOL {
-			err = decodeError{"input list has too many elements", typ}
-		}
-		return err
+		return wrapStreamError(s.ListEnd(), typ)
 	}
 	return dec, nil
 }
@@ -348,7 +375,7 @@ func decodeInterface(s *Stream, val reflect.Value) error {
 	}
 	if kind == List {
 		slice := reflect.New(ifsliceType).Elem()
-		if err := decodeList(s, slice, decodeInterface, maxInt); err != nil {
+		if err := decodeListSlice(s, slice, decodeInterface); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 		val.Set(slice)
diff --git a/rlp/decode_test.go b/rlp/decode_test.go
index 3b60234dd9..7a1743937d 100644
--- a/rlp/decode_test.go
+++ b/rlp/decode_test.go
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ func TestDecodeErrors(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Decode(r, new(chan bool)) error mismatch, got %q, want %q", err, expectErr)
 	}
 
-	if err := Decode(r, new(int)); err != io.EOF {
+	if err := Decode(r, new(uint)); err != io.EOF {
 		t.Errorf("Decode(r, new(int)) error mismatch, got %q, want %q", err, io.EOF)
 	}
 }
@@ -184,12 +184,12 @@ type decodeTest struct {
 }
 
 type simplestruct struct {
-	A int
+	A uint
 	B string
 }
 
 type recstruct struct {
-	I     int
+	I     uint
 	Child *recstruct
 }
 
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ var (
 
 var (
 	sharedByteArray [5]byte
-	sharedPtr       = new(*int)
+	sharedPtr       = new(*uint)
 )
 
 var decodeTests = []decodeTest{
@@ -213,17 +213,17 @@ var decodeTests = []decodeTest{
 	{input: "820505", ptr: new(uint32), value: uint32(0x0505)},
 	{input: "83050505", ptr: new(uint32), value: uint32(0x050505)},
 	{input: "8405050505", ptr: new(uint32), value: uint32(0x05050505)},
-	{input: "850505050505", ptr: new(uint32), error: "rlp: input string too big for uint32"},
-	{input: "C0", ptr: new(uint32), error: ErrExpectedString.Error()},
+	{input: "850505050505", ptr: new(uint32), error: "rlp: input string too long for uint32"},
+	{input: "C0", ptr: new(uint32), error: "rlp: expected input string or byte for uint32"},
 
 	// slices
-	{input: "C0", ptr: new([]int), value: []int{}},
-	{input: "C80102030405060708", ptr: new([]int), value: []int{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}},
+	{input: "C0", ptr: new([]uint), value: []uint{}},
+	{input: "C80102030405060708", ptr: new([]uint), value: []uint{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}},
 
 	// arrays
-	{input: "C0", ptr: new([5]int), value: [5]int{}},
-	{input: "C50102030405", ptr: new([5]int), value: [5]int{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}},
-	{input: "C6010203040506", ptr: new([5]int), error: "rlp: input list has too many elements for [5]int"},
+	{input: "C0", ptr: new([5]uint), value: [5]uint{}},
+	{input: "C50102030405", ptr: new([5]uint), value: [5]uint{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}},
+	{input: "C6010203040506", ptr: new([5]uint), error: "rlp: input list has too many elements for [5]uint"},
 
 	// byte slices
 	{input: "01", ptr: new([]byte), value: []byte{1}},
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ var decodeTests = []decodeTest{
 	{input: "8D6162636465666768696A6B6C6D", ptr: new([]byte), value: []byte("abcdefghijklm")},
 	{input: "C0", ptr: new([]byte), value: []byte{}},
 	{input: "C3010203", ptr: new([]byte), value: []byte{1, 2, 3}},
-	{input: "C3820102", ptr: new([]byte), error: "rlp: input string too big for uint8"},
+	{input: "C3820102", ptr: new([]byte), error: "rlp: input string too long for uint8"},
 
 	// byte arrays
 	{input: "01", ptr: new([5]byte), value: [5]byte{1}},
@@ -239,8 +239,8 @@ var decodeTests = []decodeTest{
 	{input: "850102030405", ptr: new([5]byte), value: [5]byte{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}},
 	{input: "C0", ptr: new([5]byte), value: [5]byte{}},
 	{input: "C3010203", ptr: new([5]byte), value: [5]byte{1, 2, 3, 0, 0}},
-	{input: "C3820102", ptr: new([5]byte), error: "rlp: input string too big for uint8"},
-	{input: "86010203040506", ptr: new([5]byte), error: "rlp: input string too big for [5]uint8"},
+	{input: "C3820102", ptr: new([5]byte), error: "rlp: input string too long for uint8"},
+	{input: "86010203040506", ptr: new([5]byte), error: "rlp: input string too long for [5]uint8"},
 	{input: "850101", ptr: new([5]byte), error: io.ErrUnexpectedEOF.Error()},
 
 	// byte array reuse (should be zeroed)
@@ -254,19 +254,19 @@ var decodeTests = []decodeTest{
 	// zero sized byte arrays
 	{input: "80", ptr: new([0]byte), value: [0]byte{}},
 	{input: "C0", ptr: new([0]byte), value: [0]byte{}},
-	{input: "01", ptr: new([0]byte), error: "rlp: input string too big for [0]uint8"},
-	{input: "8101", ptr: new([0]byte), error: "rlp: input string too big for [0]uint8"},
+	{input: "01", ptr: new([0]byte), error: "rlp: input string too long for [0]uint8"},
+	{input: "8101", ptr: new([0]byte), error: "rlp: input string too long for [0]uint8"},
 
 	// strings
 	{input: "00", ptr: new(string), value: "\000"},
 	{input: "8D6162636465666768696A6B6C6D", ptr: new(string), value: "abcdefghijklm"},
-	{input: "C0", ptr: new(string), error: ErrExpectedString.Error()},
+	{input: "C0", ptr: new(string), error: "rlp: expected input string or byte for string"},
 
 	// big ints
 	{input: "01", ptr: new(*big.Int), value: big.NewInt(1)},
 	{input: "89FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF", ptr: new(*big.Int), value: veryBigInt},
 	{input: "10", ptr: new(big.Int), value: *big.NewInt(16)}, // non-pointer also works
-	{input: "C0", ptr: new(*big.Int), error: ErrExpectedString.Error()},
+	{input: "C0", ptr: new(*big.Int), error: "rlp: expected input string or byte for *big.Int"},
 
 	// structs
 	{input: "C0", ptr: new(simplestruct), value: simplestruct{0, ""}},
@@ -280,17 +280,17 @@ var decodeTests = []decodeTest{
 	},
 
 	// pointers
-	{input: "00", ptr: new(*int), value: (*int)(nil)},
-	{input: "80", ptr: new(*int), value: (*int)(nil)},
-	{input: "C0", ptr: new(*int), value: (*int)(nil)},
-	{input: "07", ptr: new(*int), value: intp(7)},
-	{input: "8108", ptr: new(*int), value: intp(8)},
-	{input: "C109", ptr: new(*[]int), value: &[]int{9}},
+	{input: "00", ptr: new(*uint), value: (*uint)(nil)},
+	{input: "80", ptr: new(*uint), value: (*uint)(nil)},
+	{input: "C0", ptr: new(*uint), value: (*uint)(nil)},
+	{input: "07", ptr: new(*uint), value: uintp(7)},
+	{input: "8108", ptr: new(*uint), value: uintp(8)},
+	{input: "C109", ptr: new(*[]uint), value: &[]uint{9}},
 	{input: "C58403030303", ptr: new(*[][]byte), value: &[][]byte{{3, 3, 3, 3}}},
 
 	// pointer should be reset to nil
-	{input: "05", ptr: sharedPtr, value: intp(5)},
-	{input: "80", ptr: sharedPtr, value: (*int)(nil)},
+	{input: "05", ptr: sharedPtr, value: uintp(5)},
+	{input: "80", ptr: sharedPtr, value: (*uint)(nil)},
 
 	// interface{}
 	{input: "00", ptr: new(interface{}), value: []byte{0}},
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ var decodeTests = []decodeTest{
 	{input: "C50183040404", ptr: new(interface{}), value: []interface{}{[]byte{1}, []byte{4, 4, 4}}},
 }
 
-func intp(i int) *int { return &i }
+func uintp(i uint) *uint { return &i }
 
 func runTests(t *testing.T, decode func([]byte, interface{}) error) {
 	for i, test := range decodeTests {
@@ -434,8 +434,8 @@ func ExampleDecode() {
 	input, _ := hex.DecodeString("C90A1486666F6F626172")
 
 	type example struct {
-		A, B    int
-		private int // private fields are ignored
+		A, B    uint
+		private uint // private fields are ignored
 		String  string
 	}
 
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ func ExampleDecode() {
 		fmt.Printf("Decoded value: %#v\n", s)
 	}
 	// Output:
-	// Decoded value: rlp.example{A:10, B:20, private:0, String:"foobar"}
+	// Decoded value: rlp.example{A:0xa, B:0x14, private:0x0, String:"foobar"}
 }
 
 func ExampleStream() {
diff --git a/rlp/typecache.go b/rlp/typecache.go
index 75dbb43c27..52e68a3c53 100644
--- a/rlp/typecache.go
+++ b/rlp/typecache.go
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 package rlp
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
-	"math/big"
 	"reflect"
 	"sync"
 )
@@ -51,41 +49,14 @@ func cachedTypeInfo1(typ reflect.Type) (*typeinfo, error) {
 	return typeCache[typ], err
 }
 
-var (
-	decoderInterface = reflect.TypeOf(new(Decoder)).Elem()
-	bigInt           = reflect.TypeOf(big.Int{})
-)
-
 func genTypeInfo(typ reflect.Type) (info *typeinfo, err error) {
 	info = new(typeinfo)
-	kind := typ.Kind()
-	switch {
-	case typ.Implements(decoderInterface):
-		info.decoder = decodeDecoder
-	case kind != reflect.Ptr && reflect.PtrTo(typ).Implements(decoderInterface):
-		info.decoder = decodeDecoderNoPtr
-	case typ.AssignableTo(reflect.PtrTo(bigInt)):
-		info.decoder = decodeBigInt
-	case typ.AssignableTo(bigInt):
-		info.decoder = decodeBigIntNoPtr
-	case isInteger(kind):
-		info.decoder = makeNumDecoder(typ)
-	case kind == reflect.String:
-		info.decoder = decodeString
-	case kind == reflect.Slice || kind == reflect.Array:
-		info.decoder, err = makeListDecoder(typ)
-	case kind == reflect.Struct:
-		info.decoder, err = makeStructDecoder(typ)
-	case kind == reflect.Ptr:
-		info.decoder, err = makePtrDecoder(typ)
-	case kind == reflect.Interface && typ.NumMethod() == 0:
-		info.decoder = decodeInterface
-	default:
-		err = fmt.Errorf("rlp: type %v is not RLP-serializable", typ)
+	if info.decoder, err = makeDecoder(typ); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
-	return info, err
+	return info, nil
 }
 
-func isInteger(k reflect.Kind) bool {
-	return k >= reflect.Int && k <= reflect.Uintptr
+func isUint(k reflect.Kind) bool {
+	return k >= reflect.Uint && k <= reflect.Uintptr
 }