diff --git a/src/simplewallet/password_container.cpp b/src/simplewallet/password_container.cpp
index e5fb933bb..c1a570a3a 100644
--- a/src/simplewallet/password_container.cpp
+++ b/src/simplewallet/password_container.cpp
@@ -81,14 +81,15 @@ namespace tools
     m_empty = true;
   }
 
-  bool password_container::read_password()
+  bool password_container::read_password(const char *message)
   {
     clear();
 
     bool r;
     if (is_cin_tty())
     {
-      std::cout << "password: ";
+      if (message)
+        std::cout << message << ": ";
       r = read_from_tty();
     }
     else
diff --git a/src/simplewallet/password_container.h b/src/simplewallet/password_container.h
index 8a4191c7a..56dd44cfa 100644
--- a/src/simplewallet/password_container.h
+++ b/src/simplewallet/password_container.h
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ namespace tools
     bool empty() const { return m_empty; }
     const std::string& password() const { return m_password; }
     void password(std::string&& val) { m_password = std::move(val); m_empty = false; }
-    bool read_password();
+    bool read_password(const char *message = "password");
 
   private:
     bool read_from_file();
diff --git a/src/simplewallet/simplewallet.cpp b/src/simplewallet/simplewallet.cpp
index 3159e85d4..081d4c1b8 100644
--- a/src/simplewallet/simplewallet.cpp
+++ b/src/simplewallet/simplewallet.cpp
@@ -767,18 +767,23 @@ bool simple_wallet::save_watch_only(const std::vector<std::string> &args/* = std
 {
   bool success = false;
   tools::password_container pwd_container;
-  success = pwd_container.read_password();
+
+  success = pwd_container.read_password("Password for the new watch-only wallet");
   if (!success)
   {
     fail_msg_writer() << "failed to read wallet password";
     return true;
   }
-
-  /* verify password before using so user doesn't accidentally set a new password for rewritten wallet */
-  success = m_wallet->verify_password(pwd_container.password());
+  std::string password = pwd_container.password();
+  success = pwd_container.read_password("Enter new password again");
   if (!success)
   {
-    fail_msg_writer() << "invalid password";
+    fail_msg_writer() << "failed to read wallet password";
+    return true;
+  }
+  if (password != pwd_container.password())
+  {
+    fail_msg_writer() << "passwords do not match";
     return true;
   }