diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index c24c8eb..61cf93e 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -9,3 +9,4 @@ wallet
 myWallet*Z.json
 *.json
 log.*
+/smrepl_*
diff --git a/client/backend.go b/client/backend.go
index 41d9ded..164200e 100644
--- a/client/backend.go
+++ b/client/backend.go
@@ -40,10 +40,29 @@ func friendlyTime(nastyString string) string {
 	return t.Format("Jan 02 2006 03:04 PM")
 }
 
+func (w *WalletBackend) PrintWalletMnemonic() {
+	mnemonic, err := w.wallet.GetMnemonic()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Error("error reading mnemonic", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	fmt.Println("Mnemonic:", mnemonic)
+}
+
 func (w *WalletBackend) WalletInfo() {
-	fmt.Println("Wallet Name:", w.wallet.Meta.DisplayName)
+	fmt.Println("Name:", w.wallet.Meta.DisplayName)
 	fmt.Println("Created:", friendlyTime(w.wallet.Meta.Created))
-	fmt.Println("Wallet Path:", w.wallet.WalletPath())
+	fmt.Println("File Path:", w.wallet.WalletPath())
+
+	addressesCount, err := w.wallet.GetNumberOfAccounts()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Error("error reading addresses count", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	fmt.Println("Addresses created:", addressesCount)
+
 }
 
 func getString(prompt string) (string, error) {
@@ -147,14 +166,14 @@ func OpenWalletBackend(wallet string, grpcServer string, secureConnection bool)
 }
 
 func (w *WalletBackend) NewWallet() bool {
-	walletName := getClearString("Wallet Display Name : ")
+	walletName := getClearString("Wallet Display Name: ")
 	fmt.Println()
 	password, err := getPassword()
 	fmt.Println()
 	if err != nil {
 		return false
 	}
-	password2, err := getString("Repeat password : ")
+	password2, err := getString("Repeat password: ")
 	fmt.Println()
 	if err != nil {
 		return false
@@ -163,11 +182,23 @@ func (w *WalletBackend) NewWallet() bool {
 		fmt.Println("passwords do not match")
 		return false
 	}
-	w.wallet, err = smWallet.NewWallet(walletName, password)
-	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Println(err)
-		return false
+
+	mnemonicString := getClearString("Mnemonic (optional): ")
+	fmt.Println()
+	if len(mnemonicString) > 0 {
+		w.wallet, err = smWallet.NewWalletWithMnemonic(walletName, password, mnemonicString)
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Println(err)
+			return false
+		}
+	} else {
+		w.wallet, err = smWallet.NewWallet(walletName, password)
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Println(err)
+			return false
+		}
 	}
+
 	err = w.wallet.SaveWalletAs(w.workingDirectory + "/my_wallet")
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Println(err)
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 15b116f..fe3a557 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	be, err := client.OpenConnection(grpcServer, secureConnection, dataDir)
 	if err != nil {
+		flag.Usage()
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 	if walletName != "" {
@@ -41,7 +42,6 @@ func main() {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// TODO: change this to use the health service when it is ready
 	_, err = be.GetMeshInfo()
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Error("Failed to connect to mesh service at %v: %v", be.ServerInfo(), err)
diff --git a/repl/account_commands.go b/repl/account_commands.go
index bd32921..c9b17cd 100644
--- a/repl/account_commands.go
+++ b/repl/account_commands.go
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spacemeshos/smrepl/log"
 )
 
+func (r* repl) printWalletMnemonic() {
+	r.client.PrintWalletMnemonic()
+}
+
 func (r *repl) walletInfo() {
 	r.client.WalletInfo()
 }
@@ -71,8 +75,10 @@ func (r *repl) chooseAccount() {
 
 	account, err := r.client.CurrentAccount()
 	if err != nil {
-		panic("wtf")
+		log.Error("error getting current account", err)
+		return
 	}
+
 	fmt.Printf("%s Loaded account alias: `%s`, address: %s \n", printPrefix, account.Name, account.Address().String())
 }
 
diff --git a/repl/repl.go b/repl/repl.go
index a11ed30..e55e427 100644
--- a/repl/repl.go
+++ b/repl/repl.go
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ type repl struct {
 
 // Client interface to REPL clients.
 type Client interface {
+	PrintWalletMnemonic()
 	WalletInfo()
 	IsOpen() bool
 	OpenWallet() bool
@@ -129,6 +130,8 @@ func (r *repl) initializeCommands() {
 		accountCommands = []command{
 			// local wallet account commands
 			{commandStateWallet, "info", commandStateLeaf, "Display wallet info", r.walletInfo},
+			{commandStateWallet, "mnemonic", commandStateLeaf, "Display wallet mnemonic", r.printWalletMnemonic},
+
 			{commandStateWallet, "close", commandStateLeaf, "Close current wallet", r.closeWallet},
 
 			{commandStateAccount, "new", commandStateLeaf, "Create a new account (key pair) and set as current", r.createAccount},
@@ -270,7 +273,6 @@ func (r *repl) commandLineParams(idx int, input string) string {
 func (r *repl) firstTime() {
 	fmt.Print(printPrefix, splash)
 
-	// TODO: change this is to use the health service when it is ready
 	_, err := r.client.GetMeshInfo()
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Error("Failed to connect to mesh service at %v: %v", r.client.ServerInfo(), err)
diff --git a/smWallet/smWallet.go b/smWallet/smWallet.go
index ddbafbc..f047489 100644
--- a/smWallet/smWallet.go
+++ b/smWallet/smWallet.go
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ const (
 	errorWalletNotUnlocked = "wallet has not been unlocked"
 	// errorWalletDoesNotHaveThatAddress if attempting to access an account that has not been generated
 	errorWalletDoesNotHaveThatAddress = "you are attempting to access an account that has not been generated"
+
+	// entropySizeBytes is the number of bytes required for wallet entropy
+	entropySizeBytes = 16
 )
 
 type account struct {
@@ -86,6 +89,27 @@ type Wallet struct {
 
 // NewWallet returns a brand shiny new wallet with random seed and mnemonic phrase
 func NewWallet(walletName, password string) (w *Wallet, err error) {
+
+	entropy, err := bip39.NewEntropy(entropySizeBytes * 8)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	mnemonic, err := bip39.NewMnemonic(entropy)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return NewWalletWithMnemonic(walletName, password, mnemonic)
+}
+
+// NewWalletWithMnemonic creates a new wallet with the provided mnemonic
+func NewWalletWithMnemonic(walletName, password string, mnemonic string) (w *Wallet, err error) {
+
+	if len(mnemonic) == 0 {
+		return nil, errors.New("invalid mnemonic input")
+	}
+
 	wx := new(Wallet)
 	wx.password = password
 	wx.unlocked = true
@@ -93,12 +117,8 @@ func NewWallet(walletName, password string) (w *Wallet, err error) {
 	wx.Meta.DisplayName = walletName
 	wx.Meta.NetID = 0
 	wx.Meta.Meta.Salt = spaceSalt
-	entropy, err := bip39.NewEntropy(128)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
 	wx.Crypto.Cipher = "AES-128-CTR"
-	wx.Crypto.confidential.Mnemonic, err = bip39.NewMnemonic(entropy)
+	wx.Crypto.confidential.Mnemonic = mnemonic
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}