diff --git a/torba/client/baseaccount.py b/torba/client/baseaccount.py
index 9851582cd..5864655c2 100644
--- a/torba/client/baseaccount.py
+++ b/torba/client/baseaccount.py
@@ -447,8 +447,6 @@ class BaseAccount:
         if broadcast:
             await self.ledger.broadcast(tx)
         else:
-            await self.ledger.release_outputs(
-                [txi.txo_ref.txo for txi in tx.inputs]
-            )
+            await self.ledger.release_tx(tx)
 
         return tx
diff --git a/torba/client/basedatabase.py b/torba/client/basedatabase.py
index c36626e53..75f3cb991 100644
--- a/torba/client/basedatabase.py
+++ b/torba/client/basedatabase.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ from typing import Tuple, List, Union, Callable, Any, Awaitable, Iterable
 
 import sqlite3
 
-from torba.client.hash import TXRefImmutable
 from torba.client.basetransaction import BaseTransaction
 from torba.client.baseaccount import BaseAccount
 
diff --git a/torba/client/baseledger.py b/torba/client/baseledger.py
index 1f35fb2eb..7b543c258 100644
--- a/torba/client/baseledger.py
+++ b/torba/client/baseledger.py
@@ -206,6 +206,9 @@ class BaseLedger(metaclass=LedgerRegistry):
     def release_outputs(self, txos):
         return self.db.release_outputs(txos)
 
+    def release_tx(self, tx):
+        return self.release_outputs([txi.txo_ref.txo for txi in tx.inputs])
+
     async def get_local_status_and_history(self, address):
         address_details = await self.db.get_address(address=address)
         history = address_details['history'] or ''
diff --git a/torba/client/basetransaction.py b/torba/client/basetransaction.py
index ff4582250..358ea168c 100644
--- a/torba/client/basetransaction.py
+++ b/torba/client/basetransaction.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ from torba.client.constants import COIN, NULL_HASH32
 from torba.client.bcd_data_stream import BCDataStream
 from torba.client.hash import sha256, TXRef, TXRefImmutable
 from torba.client.util import ReadOnlyList
+from torba.client.errors import InsufficientFundsError
 
 if typing.TYPE_CHECKING:
     from torba.client import baseledger
@@ -441,7 +442,8 @@ class BaseTransaction:
 
     @classmethod
     async def create(cls, inputs: Iterable[BaseInput], outputs: Iterable[BaseOutput],
-                     funding_accounts: Iterable[BaseAccount], change_account: BaseAccount):
+                     funding_accounts: Iterable[BaseAccount], change_account: BaseAccount,
+                     sign: bool = True):
         """ Find optimal set of inputs when only outputs are provided; add change
             outputs if only inputs are provided or if inputs are greater than outputs. """
 
@@ -467,7 +469,7 @@ class BaseTransaction:
                     deficit = cost - payment
                     spendables = await ledger.get_spendable_utxos(deficit, funding_accounts)
                     if not spendables:
-                        raise ValueError('Not enough funds to cover this transaction.')
+                        raise InsufficientFundsError('Not enough funds to cover this transaction.')
                     payment += sum(s.effective_amount for s in spendables)
                     tx.add_inputs(s.txi for s in spendables)
 
@@ -500,11 +502,12 @@ class BaseTransaction:
                     # less than the fee, after 5 attempts we give up and go home
                     cost += cost_of_change + 1
 
-            await tx.sign(funding_accounts)
+            if sign:
+                await tx.sign(funding_accounts)
 
         except Exception as e:
             log.exception('Failed to create transaction:')
-            await ledger.release_outputs(tx.outputs)
+            await ledger.release_tx(tx)
             raise e
 
         return tx
diff --git a/torba/client/errors.py b/torba/client/errors.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cd290cf05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/torba/client/errors.py
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+class InsufficientFundsError(Exception):
+    pass