diff --git a/lbry/extras/daemon/daemon.py b/lbry/extras/daemon/daemon.py
index b257fd2a0..d11d7bab8 100644
--- a/lbry/extras/daemon/daemon.py
+++ b/lbry/extras/daemon/daemon.py
@@ -1330,9 +1330,9 @@ class Daemon(metaclass=JSONRPCServerType):
     @requires("wallet")
     async def jsonrpc_wallet_export(self, password=None, wallet_id=None):
         """
-        Export wallet data
+        Exports encrypted wallet data if password is supplied; otherwise plain JSON.
 
-        Wallet must be unlocked to perform this operation. Exports JSON if password is not supplied.
+        Wallet must be unlocked to perform this operation.
 
         Usage:
             wallet_export [--password=<password>] [--wallet_id=<wallet_id>]
@@ -1342,21 +1342,21 @@ class Daemon(metaclass=JSONRPCServerType):
             --wallet_id=<wallet_id>       : (str) wallet being exported
 
         Returns:
-            (str) data: Either base64-encoded encrypted wallet, or cleartext JSON
+            (str) data: base64-encoded encrypted wallet, or cleartext JSON
 
         """
         wallet = self.wallet_manager.get_wallet_or_default(wallet_id)
-        if password is None:
-            return wallet.pack()
-        encrypted = wallet.pack(password)
-        return encrypted.decode()
+        if password:
+            return wallet.pack(password).decode()
+        return wallet.to_json()
 
     @requires("wallet")
     async def jsonrpc_wallet_import(self, data, password=None, wallet_id=None, blocking=False):
         """
-        Import wallet data and merge accounts and preferences.
+        Import wallet data and merge accounts and preferences. Data is expected to be JSON if
+        password is not supplied.
 
-        Wallet must be unlocked to perform this operation. Data is expected to be JSON if password is not supplied.
+        Wallet must be unlocked to perform this operation.
 
         Usage:
             wallet_import (<data> | --data=<data>) [<password> | --password=<password>]
@@ -1369,9 +1369,8 @@ class Daemon(metaclass=JSONRPCServerType):
             --blocking                    : (bool) wait until any new accounts have merged
 
         Returns:
-            (str) Either base64-encoded encrypted wallet, or cleartext JSON
+            (str) base64-encoded encrypted wallet, or cleartext JSON
         """
-
         wallet = self.wallet_manager.get_wallet_or_default(wallet_id)
         added_accounts, merged_accounts = wallet.merge(self.wallet_manager, password, data)
         for new_account in itertools.chain(added_accounts, merged_accounts):
@@ -1385,8 +1384,7 @@ class Daemon(metaclass=JSONRPCServerType):
                 for new_account in added_accounts:
                     asyncio.create_task(self.ledger.subscribe_account(new_account))
         wallet.save()
-        encrypted = wallet.pack(password)
-        return encrypted.decode()
+        return await self.jsonrpc_wallet_export(password=password, wallet_id=wallet_id)
 
     @requires("wallet")
     async def jsonrpc_wallet_add(self, wallet_id):
diff --git a/lbry/wallet/wallet.py b/lbry/wallet/wallet.py
index 6c9ecb7b1..956b7c18f 100644
--- a/lbry/wallet/wallet.py
+++ b/lbry/wallet/wallet.py
@@ -139,6 +139,10 @@ class Wallet:
             'accounts': [a.to_dict(encrypt_password) for a in self.accounts]
         }
 
+    def to_json(self):
+        assert not self.is_locked, "Cannot serialize a wallet with locked/encrypted accounts."
+        return json.dumps(self.to_dict())
+
     def save(self):
         if self.preferences.get(ENCRYPT_ON_DISK, False):
             if self.encryption_password is not None:
@@ -163,19 +167,14 @@ class Wallet:
             h.update(account.hash)
         return h.digest()
 
-    def pack(self, password=None):
+    def pack(self, password):
         assert not self.is_locked, "Cannot pack a wallet with locked/encrypted accounts."
-        new_data = json.dumps(self.to_dict())
-        if password is None:
-            return new_data.encode()
-        new_data_compressed = zlib.compress(new_data.encode())
+        new_data_compressed = zlib.compress(self.to_json().encode())
         return better_aes_encrypt(password, new_data_compressed)
 
     @classmethod
-    def unpack(cls, password, data):
-        if password is None:
-            return json.loads(data)
-        decrypted = better_aes_decrypt(password, data)
+    def unpack(cls, password, encrypted):
+        decrypted = better_aes_decrypt(password, encrypted)
         try:
             decompressed = zlib.decompress(decrypted)
         except zlib.error as e:
@@ -190,7 +189,10 @@ class Wallet:
               password: str, data: str) -> (List['Account'], List['Account']):
         assert not self.is_locked, "Cannot sync apply on a locked wallet."
         added_accounts, merged_accounts = [], []
-        decrypted_data = self.unpack(password, data)
+        if password:
+            decrypted_data = self.unpack(password, data)
+        else:
+            decrypted_data = json.loads(data)
         self.preferences.merge(decrypted_data.get('preferences', {}))
         for account_dict in decrypted_data['accounts']:
             ledger = manager.get_or_create_ledger(account_dict['ledger'])
diff --git a/tests/integration/blockchain/test_wallet_commands.py b/tests/integration/blockchain/test_wallet_commands.py
index 192fa9200..6ead8e0fe 100644
--- a/tests/integration/blockchain/test_wallet_commands.py
+++ b/tests/integration/blockchain/test_wallet_commands.py
@@ -493,19 +493,11 @@ class WalletEncryptionAndSynchronization(CommandTestCase):
         )
 
         # test without passwords
-        daemon2.jsonrpc_preference_set("three", "3")
-        jsondata = await daemon2.jsonrpc_wallet_export()
-        await daemon.jsonrpc_wallet_import(data=jsondata, blocking=True)
-        self.assertDictEqual(
-                    # "two" key added and "conflict" value changed to "2"
-                    daemon.jsonrpc_preference_get(),
-                    {
-                        "one": "1",
-                        "two": "2",
-                        "three": "3",
-                        "conflict": "2",
-                        "another": "B",
-                        "fruit": ["peach", "apricot"]
-                    }
-                )
+        data = await daemon2.jsonrpc_wallet_export()
+        json_data = json.loads(data)
+        self.assertEqual(json_data["name"], "Wallet")
+        self.assertNotIn("four", json_data["preferences"])
 
+        json_data["preferences"]["four"] = {"value": 4, "ts": 0}
+        await daemon.jsonrpc_wallet_import(data=json.dumps(json_data), blocking=True)
+        self.assertEqual(daemon.jsonrpc_preference_get("four"), {"four": 4})