diff --git a/electrum/commands.py b/electrum/commands.py
index 6be04e2e5..72a590fde 100644
--- a/electrum/commands.py
+++ b/electrum/commands.py
@@ -106,7 +106,8 @@ def command(s):
             daemon = cmd_runner.daemon
             if daemon:
                 if (cmd.requires_wallet or 'wallet_path' in cmd.options) and kwargs.get('wallet_path') is None:
-                    kwargs['wallet_path'] = daemon.config.get_wallet_path()
+                    # using JSON-RPC, sometimes the "wallet" kwarg needs to be used to specify a wallet
+                    kwargs['wallet_path'] = kwargs.pop('wallet', None) or daemon.config.get_wallet_path()
                 if cmd.requires_wallet:
                     wallet_path = kwargs.pop('wallet_path')
                     wallet = daemon.get_wallet(wallet_path)