diff --git a/bigchaindb/commands/bigchaindb.py b/bigchaindb/commands/bigchaindb.py
index 8feabef6..bf6bde52 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/commands/bigchaindb.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/commands/bigchaindb.py
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ from bigchaindb.commands import utils
 from bigchaindb.commands.utils import (configure_bigchaindb,
                                        input_on_stderr)
 from bigchaindb.log import setup_logging
+from bigchaindb.tendermint_utils import public_key_from_base64
+
 
 logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -126,7 +128,7 @@ def run_upsert_validator_new(args, bigchain):
     """
 
     new_validator = {
-        'public_key': args.public_key,
+        'public_key': public_key_from_base64(args.public_key),
         'power': args.power,
         'node_id': args.node_id
     }
diff --git a/tests/commands/test_commands.py b/tests/commands/test_commands.py
index 8d7b0725..049d3069 100644
--- a/tests/commands/test_commands.py
+++ b/tests/commands/test_commands.py
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ def test_upsert_validator_new_without_tendermint(b, priv_validator_path, user_sk
     args = Namespace(action='new',
                      public_key='CJxdItf4lz2PwEf4SmYNAu/c/VpmX39JEgC5YpH7fxg=',
                      power=1,
-                     node_id='12345',
+                     node_id='fb7140f03a4ffad899fabbbf655b97e0321add66',
                      sk=priv_validator_path,
                      config={})
     resp = run_upsert_validator_new(args, b)
@@ -410,11 +410,11 @@ def test_upsert_validator_approve_with_tendermint(b, priv_validator_path, user_s
     from bigchaindb.commands.bigchaindb import run_upsert_validator_new, \
         run_upsert_validator_approve
 
-    public_key = '8eJ8q9ZQpReWyQT5aFCiwtZ5wDZC4eDnCen88p3tQ6ie'
+    public_key = 'CJxdItf4lz2PwEf4SmYNAu/c/VpmX39JEgC5YpH7fxg='
     new_args = Namespace(action='new',
                          public_key=public_key,
                          power=1,
-                         node_id='12345',
+                         node_id='fb7140f03a4ffad899fabbbf655b97e0321add66',
                          sk=priv_validator_path,
                          config={})