diff --git a/core/commands/commands_test.go b/core/commands/commands_test.go
index 10b0bfa23..96d7c5010 100644
--- a/core/commands/commands_test.go
+++ b/core/commands/commands_test.go
@@ -135,7 +135,6 @@ func TestCommands(t *testing.T) {
 		"/key/gen",
 		"/key/export",
 		"/key/import",
-		"/key/identify",
 		"/key/list",
 		"/key/rename",
 		"/key/rm",
diff --git a/core/commands/keystore.go b/core/commands/keystore.go
index a71ca3a26..84586055e 100644
--- a/core/commands/keystore.go
+++ b/core/commands/keystore.go
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ publish'.
 		"gen":      keyGenCmd,
 		"export":   keyExportCmd,
 		"import":   keyImportCmd,
-		"identify": keyIdentifyCmd,
 		"list":     keyListCmd,
 		"rename":   keyRenameCmd,
 		"rm":       keyRmCmd,
@@ -347,48 +346,6 @@ var keyImportCmd = &cmds.Command{
 	Type: KeyOutput{},
 }
 
-var keyIdentifyCmd = &cmds.Command{
-	Helptext: cmds.HelpText{
-		Tagline: "Identify an exported keypair",
-	},
-	Options: []cmds.Option{
-		cmds.StringOption(keyFormatOptionName, "f", "output format: b58mh or b36cid").WithDefault("b58mh"),
-	},
-	Arguments: []cmds.Argument{
-		cmds.StringArg("key", true, false, "key provided by generate or export"),
-	},
-	Run: func(req *cmds.Request, res cmds.ResponseEmitter, env cmds.Environment) error {
-		encoded := req.Arguments[0]
-
-		data, err := base58.Decode(encoded)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		sk, err := crypto.UnmarshalPrivateKey(data)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		pid, err := peer.IDFromPrivateKey(sk)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		return cmds.EmitOnce(res, &KeyOutput{
-			Name: "",
-			Id:   formatID(pid, req.Options[keyFormatOptionName].(string)),
-		})
-	},
-	Encoders: cmds.EncoderMap{
-		cmds.Text: cmds.MakeTypedEncoder(func(req *cmds.Request, w io.Writer, ko *KeyOutput) error {
-			_, err := w.Write([]byte(ko.Id + "\n"))
-			return err
-		}),
-	},
-	Type: KeyOutput{},
-}
-
 var keyListCmd = &cmds.Command{
 	Helptext: cmds.HelpText{
 		Tagline: "List all local keypairs",
diff --git a/test/sharness/t0165-keystore.sh b/test/sharness/t0165-keystore.sh
index 444353edf..ecc7facb1 100755
--- a/test/sharness/t0165-keystore.sh
+++ b/test/sharness/t0165-keystore.sh
@@ -72,12 +72,13 @@ ipfs key rm key_ed25519
   '
   
   test_expect_success "import an rsa key" '
-    imphash=$(ipfs key import -f=b58mh quxel B9bLmHeKLQU1hX23meSn2kJiNW7AZ31C6PBNSYumejXB13vxSVvViZDkEnchAH4BTs9yVnBNZKZYLwykaCohzxTntesTCVaBhZR2Br2Swav2NXwVBhfrUbaBTrR2248KfbVxSiUdkpFn8kcAmUGwp2KGMGRmq85WreGFDdAvzz8ruN2EFfWSHLc1YeUxHeUgKsQm3N13uF7q5x4qvjWM6yvMWNY7JtZrihT8BZQhgb2ezR4iYPjXZTtPZWsLbrrhUvHhxSn1NsTw6NZ7Jbs84qMXXnH56BmT8J9LugRhQQvgBquSoS1m7aeD2y1L1A7mueVDYGLDzgxRSt5CohY7VVMdheUpPiq44CicuYt5YgbbuE3wMHntn6sd9QSYw7f4SjjKdw7Jhy5fNW29SkHvpLfZKfqzBNhSfHsofXVEASDpfr5mqws1eQTztqvvZhHXQxAoxxP3PK6TfDnATdLdV3Cy5v6nLt7ppsBj54hif5EZneHMLeYP8bYLbELQ2fZdoprpnKVBsMY1nWvgrMKUTpLjoKB6bzAZYuXaYVtmrdhESmKCyE12yEyvCcD8DJQU6JjqaD1DyVSPNkL3ze26Mm3ZyiFEH7M4XirUsPLrsj41Qt1xGaVGNEdkdthihytTZxxnmgyAptZMUNfSviBfH1tVbfoXFtBGU8eYMLdSHFqxSktT1mqeiWatxMQZ8pTeA9VCvAp9RTSRFkTQR9uP6w6qTzRD9cFcH4HyCEc5TJpiZdP7u9RjaEo2S3P9VkHfmqCH4McpLgw7He9nm7rf9JA2Gh7ubTKy5e6dJUWojgYhGS4KGe3yKGFhLaNgRiME63fUEFSnN2ZvCSM9qsrj34q2h8962xBod9hCVEDfk4tfmHu1UHX5AGaW6mk3pzqKKVYTTWXi84JSH7vzKPmQuhwaAR9Ye3Jbdzehp4xhrT5aFCjnz3r5qNv2zz48Fq5bGc1RUh88PUMT3z6kuzv6B1eXTLYpeu9gGdjc5C9DQDTYPfcHWn7dSHr4AGV1sN6SwVy8W5LZdMAZaeXCDn9iXDwbeD2DYd2ozVCEzceygVzpVdnueNx5FmG6zHtGzfuStr4Jj85sbd2jUGh4ES2bMU41jw2gJ6ujjf6CrxZpCWhXz6NJpAS9njcDFXuspf7otbMjCB6TzwokJwEse31nGUZQdhQgXn23vnZtxwCV621uXFbm7xVACRZKeuXgw8VdEVaXGvf2V4DdhjZnjmePBbTeJ7WjABavLcpMqZJH7FgaLxazFqk9RXtnfUEbVAAhuZzxz6L8Z6axHwz3a4EZtALRjfFjn6xjaUtsWXYW8P6F7femM6UHx3qXMo43hKC7oxnd6Tfta972dgyQfSoBwWkWzB8cvaJreNh4bdLNkw6mty86NXGKyijv83LR1HjbnUoTwPbEMX8JyzLfMf3qiWzwf6MHrXprwygmEpNc6w8tNNivmcWyCX3wmPkMKK1bmi5TCHoUtRrxcyXKhmuyo6zzag8KyK6iZaRbMiFiUJBi5VYwidMutkexWo8SRqfSV5yp2kxswknmpeVTnXBhVEy3anMEiD6bV48AnbF6SfKAi2DGBFqxBFfpFEbYtPauHiYYzZX1epqvKxY23xA9J8FosMk4yYN4Ps7Rh)
+    echo "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" >> importkey
+    imphash=$(ipfs key import -f=b58mh quxel $(cat importkey))
   '
 
-  test_expect_success "identify an rsa key" '
-    gothash=$(ipfs key identify 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) &&
-    test $imphash = $gothash
+  test_expect_success "export an rsa key" '
+    ipfs key export quxel >> exportkey &&
+    test_cmp importkey exportkey
   '
   
   test_expect_success "key export can't export self" '
@@ -86,7 +87,7 @@ ipfs key rm key_ed25519
   '
 
   test_expect_success "key import can't import self" '
-    test_must_fail ipfs key import self B9bLmHeKLQU1hX23meSn2kJiNW7AZ31C6PBNSYumejXB13vxSVvViZDkEnchAH4BTs9yVnBNZKZYLwykaCohzxTntesTCVaBhZR2Br2Swav2NXwVBhfrUbaBTrR2248KfbVxSiUdkpFn8kcAmUGwp2KGMGRmq85WreGFDdAvzz8ruN2EFfWSHLc1YeUxHeUgKsQm3N13uF7q5x4qvjWM6yvMWNY7JtZrihT8BZQhgb2ezR4iYPjXZTtPZWsLbrrhUvHhxSn1NsTw6NZ7Jbs84qMXXnH56BmT8J9LugRhQQvgBquSoS1m7aeD2y1L1A7mueVDYGLDzgxRSt5CohY7VVMdheUpPiq44CicuYt5YgbbuE3wMHntn6sd9QSYw7f4SjjKdw7Jhy5fNW29SkHvpLfZKfqzBNhSfHsofXVEASDpfr5mqws1eQTztqvvZhHXQxAoxxP3PK6TfDnATdLdV3Cy5v6nLt7ppsBj54hif5EZneHMLeYP8bYLbELQ2fZdoprpnKVBsMY1nWvgrMKUTpLjoKB6bzAZYuXaYVtmrdhESmKCyE12yEyvCcD8DJQU6JjqaD1DyVSPNkL3ze26Mm3ZyiFEH7M4XirUsPLrsj41Qt1xGaVGNEdkdthihytTZxxnmgyAptZMUNfSviBfH1tVbfoXFtBGU8eYMLdSHFqxSktT1mqeiWatxMQZ8pTeA9VCvAp9RTSRFkTQR9uP6w6qTzRD9cFcH4HyCEc5TJpiZdP7u9RjaEo2S3P9VkHfmqCH4McpLgw7He9nm7rf9JA2Gh7ubTKy5e6dJUWojgYhGS4KGe3yKGFhLaNgRiME63fUEFSnN2ZvCSM9qsrj34q2h8962xBod9hCVEDfk4tfmHu1UHX5AGaW6mk3pzqKKVYTTWXi84JSH7vzKPmQuhwaAR9Ye3Jbdzehp4xhrT5aFCjnz3r5qNv2zz48Fq5bGc1RUh88PUMT3z6kuzv6B1eXTLYpeu9gGdjc5C9DQDTYPfcHWn7dSHr4AGV1sN6SwVy8W5LZdMAZaeXCDn9iXDwbeD2DYd2ozVCEzceygVzpVdnueNx5FmG6zHtGzfuStr4Jj85sbd2jUGh4ES2bMU41jw2gJ6ujjf6CrxZpCWhXz6NJpAS9njcDFXuspf7otbMjCB6TzwokJwEse31nGUZQdhQgXn23vnZtxwCV621uXFbm7xVACRZKeuXgw8VdEVaXGvf2V4DdhjZnjmePBbTeJ7WjABavLcpMqZJH7FgaLxazFqk9RXtnfUEbVAAhuZzxz6L8Z6axHwz3a4EZtALRjfFjn6xjaUtsWXYW8P6F7femM6UHx3qXMo43hKC7oxnd6Tfta972dgyQfSoBwWkWzB8cvaJreNh4bdLNkw6mty86NXGKyijv83LR1HjbnUoTwPbEMX8JyzLfMf3qiWzwf6MHrXprwygmEpNc6w8tNNivmcWyCX3wmPkMKK1bmi5TCHoUtRrxcyXKhmuyo6zzag8KyK6iZaRbMiFiUJBi5VYwidMutkexWo8SRqfSV5yp2kxswknmpeVTnXBhVEy3anMEiD6bV48AnbF6SfKAi2DGBFqxBFfpFEbYtPauHiYYzZX1epqvKxY23xA9J8FosMk4yYN4Ps7Rh 2>&1 | tee key_imp_out &&
+    test_must_fail ipfs key import self $(cat importkey) 2>&1 | tee key_imp_out &&
     grep -q "Error: cannot import key with name" key_imp_out
   '