diff --git a/src/ripple/app/ledger/InboundLedger.h b/src/ripple/app/ledger/InboundLedger.h
index 8057accf3..c33845378 100644
--- a/src/ripple/app/ledger/InboundLedger.h
+++ b/src/ripple/app/ledger/InboundLedger.h
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ public:
     void filterNodes (std::vector<SHAMapNodeID>& nodeIDs, std::vector<uint256>& nodeHashes,
                              std::set<SHAMapNodeID>& recentNodes, int max, bool aggressive);
 
+    /** Return a Json::objectValue. */
     Json::Value getJson (int);
     void runData ();
 
diff --git a/src/ripple/app/misc/AmendmentTable.h b/src/ripple/app/misc/AmendmentTable.h
index c2b45b938..1a6e80907 100644
--- a/src/ripple/app/misc/AmendmentTable.h
+++ b/src/ripple/app/misc/AmendmentTable.h
@@ -144,6 +144,8 @@ public:
     virtual void reportValidations (const AmendmentSet&) = 0;
 
     virtual Json::Value getJson (int) = 0;
+
+    /** Returns a Json::objectValue. */
     virtual Json::Value getJson (uint256 const& ) = 0;
 
     virtual void
diff --git a/src/ripple/json/JsonPropertyStream.h b/src/ripple/json/JsonPropertyStream.h
index 372a1d1f9..04377c782 100644
--- a/src/ripple/json/JsonPropertyStream.h
+++ b/src/ripple/json/JsonPropertyStream.h
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 
 namespace ripple {
 
-/** A PropertyStream::Sink which produces a Json::Value. */
+/** A PropertyStream::Sink which produces a Json::Value of type objectValue. */
 class JsonPropertyStream : public beast::PropertyStream
 {
 public:
@@ -65,4 +65,3 @@ protected:
 }
 
 #endif
-
diff --git a/src/ripple/protocol/JsonFields.h b/src/ripple/protocol/JsonFields.h
index d74b86c5d..546236c06 100644
--- a/src/ripple/protocol/JsonFields.h
+++ b/src/ripple/protocol/JsonFields.h
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ namespace jss {
 //        TODO Move the string not part of the JSON-RPC API into another file
 JSS ( accepted );
 JSS ( account );
+JSS ( accounts );
 JSS ( account_hash );
 JSS ( account_index );
 JSS ( accountState );
diff --git a/src/ripple/resource/impl/Logic.h b/src/ripple/resource/impl/Logic.h
index c9900ce83..7b7cbaacf 100644
--- a/src/ripple/resource/impl/Logic.h
+++ b/src/ripple/resource/impl/Logic.h
@@ -239,6 +239,7 @@ public:
         return getJson (warningThreshold);
     }
 
+    /** Returns a Json::objectValue. */
     Json::Value getJson (int threshold)
     {
         clock_type::time_point const now (m_clock.now());
diff --git a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/AccountInfo.cpp b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/AccountInfo.cpp
index cfd3b2485..b541a35c4 100644
--- a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/AccountInfo.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/AccountInfo.cpp
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ Json::Value doAccountInfo (RPC::Context& context)
     else
     {
         result["account"] = naAccount.humanAccountID ();
-        result            = rpcError (rpcACT_NOT_FOUND, result);
+        RPC::inject_error (rpcACT_NOT_FOUND, result);
     }
 
     return result;
diff --git a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/Connect.cpp b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/Connect.cpp
index 308132932..4519daad3 100644
--- a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/Connect.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/Connect.cpp
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ Json::Value doConnect (RPC::Context& context)
     if (! is_unspecified (ip))
         getApp().overlay ().connect (ip.at_port(iPort));
 
-    return "connecting";
+    return RPC::makeObjectValue ("connecting");
 }
 
 } // ripple
diff --git a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/LedgerCleaner.cpp b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/LedgerCleaner.cpp
index 62b9bc865..a5591172b 100644
--- a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/LedgerCleaner.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/LedgerCleaner.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ namespace ripple {
 Json::Value doLedgerCleaner (RPC::Context& context)
 {
     getApp().getLedgerMaster().doLedgerCleaner (context.params);
-    return "Cleaner configured";
+    return RPC::makeObjectValue ("Cleaner configured");
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/SMS.cpp b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/SMS.cpp
index 8388899fc..07ad6d91e 100644
--- a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/SMS.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/SMS.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ Json::Value doSMS (RPC::Context& context)
     HTTPClient::sendSMS (
         getApp().getIOService (), context.params["text"].asString ());
 
-    return "sms dispatched";
+    return RPC::makeObjectValue ("sms dispatched");
 }
 
 } // ripple
diff --git a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/Stop.cpp b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/Stop.cpp
index d59cb3455..f170fd9e6 100644
--- a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/Stop.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/Stop.cpp
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ Json::Value doStop (RPC::Context& context)
     auto lock = getApp().masterLock();
     getApp().signalStop ();
 
-    return SYSTEM_NAME " server stopping";
+    return RPC::makeObjectValue (SYSTEM_NAME " server stopping");
 }
 
 } // ripple
diff --git a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlAdd.cpp b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlAdd.cpp
index 29011396d..f478169a4 100644
--- a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlAdd.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlAdd.cpp
@@ -39,13 +39,13 @@ Json::Value doUnlAdd (RPC::Context& context)
     {
         getApp().getUNL ().nodeAddPublic (
             raNodePublic, UniqueNodeList::vsManual, strComment);
-        return "adding node by public key";
+        return RPC::makeObjectValue ("adding node by public key");
     }
     else
     {
         getApp().getUNL ().nodeAddDomain (
             strNode, UniqueNodeList::vsManual, strComment);
-        return "adding node by domain";
+        return RPC::makeObjectValue ("adding node by domain");
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlDelete.cpp b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlDelete.cpp
index 39de12737..96df31b76 100644
--- a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlDelete.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlDelete.cpp
@@ -36,12 +36,12 @@ Json::Value doUnlDelete (RPC::Context& context)
     if (raNodePublic.setNodePublic (strNode))
     {
         getApp().getUNL ().nodeRemovePublic (raNodePublic);
-        return "removing node by public key";
+        return RPC::makeObjectValue ("removing node by public key");
     }
     else
     {
         getApp().getUNL ().nodeRemoveDomain (strNode);
-        return "removing node by domain";
+        return RPC::makeObjectValue ("removing node by domain");
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlLoad.cpp b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlLoad.cpp
index 2f68deabe..5fb946c4a 100644
--- a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlLoad.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlLoad.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Json::Value doUnlLoad (RPC::Context& context)
         return rpcError (rpcLOAD_FAILED);
     }
 
-    return "loading";
+    return RPC::makeObjectValue ("loading");
 }
 
 } // ripple
diff --git a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlNetwork.cpp b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlNetwork.cpp
index 2e5291a83..0f433d495 100644
--- a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlNetwork.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlNetwork.cpp
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ Json::Value doUnlNetwork (RPC::Context& context)
     auto lock = getApp().masterLock();
     getApp().getUNL ().nodeNetwork ();
 
-    return "fetching";
+    return RPC::makeObjectValue ("fetching");
 }
 
 } // ripple
diff --git a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlReset.cpp b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlReset.cpp
index 7d0892d1a..8cc3ecefa 100644
--- a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlReset.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlReset.cpp
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ Json::Value doUnlReset (RPC::Context& context)
     auto lock = getApp().masterLock();
     getApp().getUNL ().nodeReset ();
 
-    return "removing nodes";
+    return RPC::makeObjectValue ("removing nodes");
 }
 
 } // ripple
diff --git a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlScore.cpp b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlScore.cpp
index a32b1048b..b4f2881af 100644
--- a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlScore.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/UnlScore.cpp
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ Json::Value doUnlScore (RPC::Context& context)
     auto lock = getApp().masterLock();
     getApp().getUNL ().nodeScore ();
 
-    return "scoring requested";
+    return RPC::makeObjectValue ("scoring requested");
 }
 
 } // ripple
diff --git a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/WalletAccounts.cpp b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/WalletAccounts.cpp
index 6acefcc40..06358d391 100644
--- a/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/WalletAccounts.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/rpc/handlers/WalletAccounts.cpp
@@ -60,18 +60,14 @@ Json::Value doWalletAccounts (RPC::Context& context)
         if (!ret.empty ())
             return ret;
 
-        ret["accounts"]
+        ret[jss::accounts]
                 = RPC::accounts (ledger, naMasterGenerator, context.netOps);
         return ret;
     }
     else
     {
         // Had accounts via seed as master, return them.
-        Json::Value ret (Json::objectValue);
-
-        ret["accounts"] = jsonAccounts;
-
-        return ret;
+        return RPC::makeObjectValue (jsonAccounts, jss::accounts);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ripple/rpc/impl/AccountFromString.cpp b/src/ripple/rpc/impl/AccountFromString.cpp
index ca86e4c7a..23ec825d0 100644
--- a/src/ripple/rpc/impl/AccountFromString.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/rpc/impl/AccountFromString.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ namespace RPC {
 // --> strIdent: public key, account ID, or regular seed.
 // --> bStrict: Only allow account id or public key.
 // <-- bIndex: true if iIndex > 0 and used the index.
+//
+// Returns a Json::objectValue, containing error information if there was one.
 Json::Value accountFromString (
     Ledger::ref lrLedger,
     RippleAddress& naAccount,
diff --git a/src/ripple/rpc/impl/Handler.h b/src/ripple/rpc/impl/Handler.h
index 1129d8e3b..9c00ed08f 100644
--- a/src/ripple/rpc/impl/Handler.h
+++ b/src/ripple/rpc/impl/Handler.h
@@ -46,6 +46,16 @@ struct Handler
 
 const Handler* getHandler(std::string name);
 
+/** Return a Json::objectValue with a single entry. */
+template <class Value>
+Json::Value makeObjectValue (
+    Value const& value, Json::StaticString const& field = jss::message)
+{
+    Json::Value result (Json::objectValue);
+    result[field] = value;
+    return result;
+}
+
 } // RPC
 } // ripple
 
diff --git a/src/ripple/rpc/impl/LookupLedger.cpp b/src/ripple/rpc/impl/LookupLedger.cpp
index 82fa9e7f5..79df3b5d1 100644
--- a/src/ripple/rpc/impl/LookupLedger.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/rpc/impl/LookupLedger.cpp
@@ -40,6 +40,11 @@ static const int LEDGER_VALIDATED = -3;
 //
 // In the absence of the "ledger_hash" or "ledger_index" parameters, the code
 // assumes that "ledger_index" has the value "current".
+//
+// Returns a Json::objectValue.  If there was an error, it will be in that
+// return value.  Otherwise, the object contains the field "validated" and
+// optionally the fields "ledger_hash", "ledger_index" and
+// "ledger_current_index", if they are defined.
 Json::Value lookupLedger (
     Json::Value const& params,
     Ledger::pointer& ledger,
diff --git a/src/ripple/rpc/impl/RPCHandler.cpp b/src/ripple/rpc/impl/RPCHandler.cpp
index f42b66087..35f7273fb 100644
--- a/src/ripple/rpc/impl/RPCHandler.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/rpc/impl/RPCHandler.cpp
@@ -140,17 +140,9 @@ Json::Value RPCHandler::doCommand (
         LoadEvent::autoptr ev = getApp().getJobQueue().getLoadEventAP(
             jtGENERIC, "cmd:" + strCommand);
         RPC::Context context {params, loadType, netOps_, infoSub_, role_};
-        Json::Value jvRaw = handler->method_(context);
-
-        // Regularize result.
-        if (jvRaw.isObject ())
-            return jvRaw;
-
-        // Probably got a string.
-        Json::Value jvResult (Json::objectValue);
-        jvResult[jss::message] = jvRaw;
-
-        return jvResult;
+        auto result = handler->method_(context);
+        assert (result.isObject());
+        return result;
     }
     catch (std::exception& e)
     {
diff --git a/src/ripple/rpc/impl/TransactionSign.h b/src/ripple/rpc/impl/TransactionSign.h
index 218ef1c84..732a7bb30 100644
--- a/src/ripple/rpc/impl/TransactionSign.h
+++ b/src/ripple/rpc/impl/TransactionSign.h
@@ -100,6 +100,8 @@ public:
 
 } // namespace RPCDetail
 
+
+/** Returns a Json::objectValue. */
 Json::Value transactionSign (
     Json::Value params,
     bool bSubmit,