diff --git a/cmd/geth/les_test.go b/cmd/geth/les_test.go
index d06c3b91d..607b454ea 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/les_test.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/les_test.go
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ func startLightServer(t *testing.T) *gethrpc {
 	t.Logf("Importing keys to geth")
 	runGeth(t, "account", "import", "--datadir", datadir, "--password", "./testdata/password.txt", "--lightkdf", "./testdata/key.prv").WaitExit()
 	account := "0x02f0d131f1f97aef08aec6e3291b957d9efe7105"
-	server := startGethWithIpc(t, "lightserver", "--allow-insecure-unlock", "--datadir", datadir, "--password", "./testdata/password.txt", "--unlock", account, "--mine", "--light.serve=100", "--light.maxpeers=1", "--nodiscover", "--nat=extip:127.0.0.1", "--verbosity=4")
+	server := startGethWithIpc(t, "lightserver", "--allow-insecure-unlock", "--datadir", datadir, "--password", "./testdata/password.txt", "--unlock", account, "--miner.etherbase=0x02f0d131f1f97aef08aec6e3291b957d9efe7105", "--mine", "--light.serve=100", "--light.maxpeers=1", "--nodiscover", "--nat=extip:127.0.0.1", "--verbosity=4")
 	return server
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/utils/flags.go b/cmd/utils/flags.go
index 4c66800d5..4bee6093e 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/flags.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/flags.go
@@ -538,8 +538,7 @@ var (
 	}
 	MinerEtherbaseFlag = &cli.StringFlag{
 		Name:     "miner.etherbase",
-		Usage:    "Public address for block mining rewards (default = first account)",
-		Value:    "0",
+		Usage:    "0x prefixed public address for block mining rewards",
 		Category: flags.MinerCategory,
 	}
 	MinerExtraDataFlag = &cli.StringFlag{
@@ -1343,25 +1342,15 @@ func MakeAddress(ks *keystore.KeyStore, account string) (accounts.Account, error
 	return accs[index], nil
 }
 
-// setEtherbase retrieves the etherbase either from the directly specified
-// command line flags or from the keystore if CLI indexed.
-func setEtherbase(ctx *cli.Context, ks *keystore.KeyStore, cfg *ethconfig.Config) {
-	// Extract the current etherbase
-	var etherbase string
+// setEtherbase retrieves the etherbase from the directly specified command line flags.
+func setEtherbase(ctx *cli.Context, cfg *ethconfig.Config) {
 	if ctx.IsSet(MinerEtherbaseFlag.Name) {
-		etherbase = ctx.String(MinerEtherbaseFlag.Name)
-	}
-	// Convert the etherbase into an address and configure it
-	if etherbase != "" {
-		if ks != nil {
-			account, err := MakeAddress(ks, etherbase)
-			if err != nil {
-				Fatalf("Invalid miner etherbase: %v", err)
-			}
-			cfg.Miner.Etherbase = account.Address
-		} else {
-			Fatalf("No etherbase configured")
+		b, err := hexutil.Decode(ctx.String(MinerEtherbaseFlag.Name))
+		if err != nil || len(b) != common.AddressLength {
+			log.Info("Failed to decode etherbase", "err", err)
+			return
 		}
+		cfg.Miner.Etherbase = common.BytesToAddress(b)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1739,11 +1728,7 @@ func SetEthConfig(ctx *cli.Context, stack *node.Node, cfg *ethconfig.Config) {
 	if ctx.IsSet(LightServeFlag.Name) && ctx.Uint64(TxLookupLimitFlag.Name) != 0 {
 		log.Warn("LES server cannot serve old transaction status and cannot connect below les/4 protocol version if transaction lookup index is limited")
 	}
-	var ks *keystore.KeyStore
-	if keystores := stack.AccountManager().Backends(keystore.KeyStoreType); len(keystores) > 0 {
-		ks = keystores[0].(*keystore.KeyStore)
-	}
-	setEtherbase(ctx, ks, cfg)
+	setEtherbase(ctx, cfg)
 	setGPO(ctx, &cfg.GPO, ctx.String(SyncModeFlag.Name) == "light")
 	setTxPool(ctx, &cfg.TxPool)
 	setEthash(ctx, cfg)
@@ -1921,6 +1906,14 @@ func SetEthConfig(ctx *cli.Context, stack *node.Node, cfg *ethconfig.Config) {
 			// when we're definitely concerned with only one account.
 			passphrase = list[0]
 		}
+		// Unlock the developer account by local keystore.
+		var ks *keystore.KeyStore
+		if keystores := stack.AccountManager().Backends(keystore.KeyStoreType); len(keystores) > 0 {
+			ks = keystores[0].(*keystore.KeyStore)
+		}
+		if ks == nil {
+			Fatalf("Keystore is not available")
+		}
 		// setEtherbase has been called above, configuring the miner address from command line flags.
 		if cfg.Miner.Etherbase != (common.Address{}) {
 			developer = accounts.Account{Address: cfg.Miner.Etherbase}
diff --git a/eth/backend.go b/eth/backend.go
index 6b1c04468..6368c0e03 100644
--- a/eth/backend.go
+++ b/eth/backend.go
@@ -329,18 +329,6 @@ func (s *Ethereum) Etherbase() (eb common.Address, err error) {
 	if etherbase != (common.Address{}) {
 		return etherbase, nil
 	}
-	if wallets := s.AccountManager().Wallets(); len(wallets) > 0 {
-		if accounts := wallets[0].Accounts(); len(accounts) > 0 {
-			etherbase := accounts[0].Address
-
-			s.lock.Lock()
-			s.etherbase = etherbase
-			s.lock.Unlock()
-
-			log.Info("Etherbase automatically configured", "address", etherbase)
-			return etherbase, nil
-		}
-	}
 	return common.Address{}, fmt.Errorf("etherbase must be explicitly specified")
 }
 
@@ -456,7 +444,7 @@ func (s *Ethereum) StartMining(threads int) error {
 		// introduced to speed sync times.
 		atomic.StoreUint32(&s.handler.acceptTxs, 1)
 
-		go s.miner.Start(eb)
+		go s.miner.Start()
 	}
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/miner/miner.go b/miner/miner.go
index 5102cb523..c969aec73 100644
--- a/miner/miner.go
+++ b/miner/miner.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ type Backend interface {
 
 // Config is the configuration parameters of mining.
 type Config struct {
-	Etherbase  common.Address `toml:",omitempty"` // Public address for block mining rewards (default = first account)
+	Etherbase  common.Address `toml:",omitempty"` // Public address for block mining rewards
 	Notify     []string       `toml:",omitempty"` // HTTP URL list to be notified of new work packages (only useful in ethash).
 	NotifyFull bool           `toml:",omitempty"` // Notify with pending block headers instead of work packages
 	ExtraData  hexutil.Bytes  `toml:",omitempty"` // Block extra data set by the miner
@@ -73,25 +73,24 @@ var DefaultConfig = Config{
 
 // Miner creates blocks and searches for proof-of-work values.
 type Miner struct {
-	mux      *event.TypeMux
-	worker   *worker
-	coinbase common.Address
-	eth      Backend
-	engine   consensus.Engine
-	exitCh   chan struct{}
-	startCh  chan common.Address
-	stopCh   chan struct{}
+	mux     *event.TypeMux
+	eth     Backend
+	engine  consensus.Engine
+	exitCh  chan struct{}
+	startCh chan struct{}
+	stopCh  chan struct{}
+	worker  *worker
 
 	wg sync.WaitGroup
 }
 
 func New(eth Backend, config *Config, chainConfig *params.ChainConfig, mux *event.TypeMux, engine consensus.Engine, isLocalBlock func(header *types.Header) bool) *Miner {
 	miner := &Miner{
-		eth:     eth,
 		mux:     mux,
+		eth:     eth,
 		engine:  engine,
 		exitCh:  make(chan struct{}),
-		startCh: make(chan common.Address),
+		startCh: make(chan struct{}),
 		stopCh:  make(chan struct{}),
 		worker:  newWorker(config, chainConfig, engine, eth, mux, isLocalBlock, true),
 	}
@@ -138,20 +137,17 @@ func (miner *Miner) update() {
 			case downloader.FailedEvent:
 				canStart = true
 				if shouldStart {
-					miner.SetEtherbase(miner.coinbase)
 					miner.worker.start()
 				}
 			case downloader.DoneEvent:
 				canStart = true
 				if shouldStart {
-					miner.SetEtherbase(miner.coinbase)
 					miner.worker.start()
 				}
 				// Stop reacting to downloader events
 				events.Unsubscribe()
 			}
-		case addr := <-miner.startCh:
-			miner.SetEtherbase(addr)
+		case <-miner.startCh:
 			if canStart {
 				miner.worker.start()
 			}
@@ -166,8 +162,8 @@ func (miner *Miner) update() {
 	}
 }
 
-func (miner *Miner) Start(coinbase common.Address) {
-	miner.startCh <- coinbase
+func (miner *Miner) Start() {
+	miner.startCh <- struct{}{}
 }
 
 func (miner *Miner) Stop() {
@@ -223,7 +219,6 @@ func (miner *Miner) PendingBlockAndReceipts() (*types.Block, types.Receipts) {
 }
 
 func (miner *Miner) SetEtherbase(addr common.Address) {
-	miner.coinbase = addr
 	miner.worker.setEtherbase(addr)
 }
 
diff --git a/miner/miner_test.go b/miner/miner_test.go
index 7bf091f37..2e7682acd 100644
--- a/miner/miner_test.go
+++ b/miner/miner_test.go
@@ -86,7 +86,8 @@ func (bc *testBlockChain) SubscribeChainHeadEvent(ch chan<- core.ChainHeadEvent)
 func TestMiner(t *testing.T) {
 	miner, mux, cleanup := createMiner(t)
 	defer cleanup(false)
-	miner.Start(common.HexToAddress("0x12345"))
+
+	miner.Start()
 	waitForMiningState(t, miner, true)
 	// Start the downloader
 	mux.Post(downloader.StartEvent{})
@@ -114,7 +115,8 @@ func TestMiner(t *testing.T) {
 func TestMinerDownloaderFirstFails(t *testing.T) {
 	miner, mux, cleanup := createMiner(t)
 	defer cleanup(false)
-	miner.Start(common.HexToAddress("0x12345"))
+
+	miner.Start()
 	waitForMiningState(t, miner, true)
 	// Start the downloader
 	mux.Post(downloader.StartEvent{})
@@ -146,7 +148,8 @@ func TestMinerDownloaderFirstFails(t *testing.T) {
 func TestMinerStartStopAfterDownloaderEvents(t *testing.T) {
 	miner, mux, cleanup := createMiner(t)
 	defer cleanup(false)
-	miner.Start(common.HexToAddress("0x12345"))
+
+	miner.Start()
 	waitForMiningState(t, miner, true)
 	// Start the downloader
 	mux.Post(downloader.StartEvent{})
@@ -159,7 +162,7 @@ func TestMinerStartStopAfterDownloaderEvents(t *testing.T) {
 	miner.Stop()
 	waitForMiningState(t, miner, false)
 
-	miner.Start(common.HexToAddress("0x678910"))
+	miner.Start()
 	waitForMiningState(t, miner, true)
 
 	miner.Stop()
@@ -170,13 +173,13 @@ func TestStartWhileDownload(t *testing.T) {
 	miner, mux, cleanup := createMiner(t)
 	defer cleanup(false)
 	waitForMiningState(t, miner, false)
-	miner.Start(common.HexToAddress("0x12345"))
+	miner.Start()
 	waitForMiningState(t, miner, true)
 	// Stop the downloader and wait for the update loop to run
 	mux.Post(downloader.StartEvent{})
 	waitForMiningState(t, miner, false)
 	// Starting the miner after the downloader should not work
-	miner.Start(common.HexToAddress("0x12345"))
+	miner.Start()
 	waitForMiningState(t, miner, false)
 }
 
@@ -184,7 +187,7 @@ func TestStartStopMiner(t *testing.T) {
 	miner, _, cleanup := createMiner(t)
 	defer cleanup(false)
 	waitForMiningState(t, miner, false)
-	miner.Start(common.HexToAddress("0x12345"))
+	miner.Start()
 	waitForMiningState(t, miner, true)
 	miner.Stop()
 	waitForMiningState(t, miner, false)
@@ -194,7 +197,7 @@ func TestCloseMiner(t *testing.T) {
 	miner, _, cleanup := createMiner(t)
 	defer cleanup(true)
 	waitForMiningState(t, miner, false)
-	miner.Start(common.HexToAddress("0x12345"))
+	miner.Start()
 	waitForMiningState(t, miner, true)
 	// Terminate the miner and wait for the update loop to run
 	miner.Close()
@@ -206,21 +209,21 @@ func TestCloseMiner(t *testing.T) {
 func TestMinerSetEtherbase(t *testing.T) {
 	miner, mux, cleanup := createMiner(t)
 	defer cleanup(false)
-	// Start with a 'bad' mining address
-	miner.Start(common.HexToAddress("0xdead"))
+	miner.Start()
 	waitForMiningState(t, miner, true)
 	// Start the downloader
 	mux.Post(downloader.StartEvent{})
 	waitForMiningState(t, miner, false)
 	// Now user tries to configure proper mining address
-	miner.Start(common.HexToAddress("0x1337"))
+	miner.Start()
 	// Stop the downloader and wait for the update loop to run
 	mux.Post(downloader.DoneEvent{})
-
 	waitForMiningState(t, miner, true)
-	// The miner should now be using the good address
-	if got, exp := miner.coinbase, common.HexToAddress("0x1337"); got != exp {
-		t.Fatalf("Wrong coinbase, got %x expected %x", got, exp)
+
+	coinbase := common.HexToAddress("0xdeedbeef")
+	miner.SetEtherbase(coinbase)
+	if addr := miner.worker.etherbase(); addr != coinbase {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected etherbase want %x got %x", coinbase, addr)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/miner/worker.go b/miner/worker.go
index 45450237f..ee4969623 100644
--- a/miner/worker.go
+++ b/miner/worker.go
@@ -276,12 +276,14 @@ func newWorker(config *Config, chainConfig *params.ChainConfig, engine consensus
 		chainConfig:        chainConfig,
 		engine:             engine,
 		eth:                eth,
-		mux:                mux,
 		chain:              eth.BlockChain(),
+		mux:                mux,
 		isLocalBlock:       isLocalBlock,
 		localUncles:        make(map[common.Hash]*types.Block),
 		remoteUncles:       make(map[common.Hash]*types.Block),
 		unconfirmed:        newUnconfirmedBlocks(eth.BlockChain(), sealingLogAtDepth),
+		coinbase:           config.Etherbase,
+		extra:              config.ExtraData,
 		pendingTasks:       make(map[common.Hash]*task),
 		txsCh:              make(chan core.NewTxsEvent, txChanSize),
 		chainHeadCh:        make(chan core.ChainHeadEvent, chainHeadChanSize),
@@ -290,8 +292,8 @@ func newWorker(config *Config, chainConfig *params.ChainConfig, engine consensus
 		getWorkCh:          make(chan *getWorkReq),
 		taskCh:             make(chan *task),
 		resultCh:           make(chan *types.Block, resultQueueSize),
-		exitCh:             make(chan struct{}),
 		startCh:            make(chan struct{}, 1),
+		exitCh:             make(chan struct{}),
 		resubmitIntervalCh: make(chan time.Duration),
 		resubmitAdjustCh:   make(chan *intervalAdjust, resubmitAdjustChanSize),
 	}
@@ -340,6 +342,13 @@ func (w *worker) setEtherbase(addr common.Address) {
 	w.coinbase = addr
 }
 
+// etherbase retrieves the configured etherbase address.
+func (w *worker) etherbase() common.Address {
+	w.mu.RLock()
+	defer w.mu.RUnlock()
+	return w.coinbase
+}
+
 func (w *worker) setGasCeil(ceil uint64) {
 	w.mu.Lock()
 	defer w.mu.Unlock()
@@ -1114,11 +1123,11 @@ func (w *worker) commitWork(interrupt *int32, noempty bool, timestamp int64) {
 	// Set the coinbase if the worker is running or it's required
 	var coinbase common.Address
 	if w.isRunning() {
-		if w.coinbase == (common.Address{}) {
+		coinbase = w.etherbase()
+		if coinbase == (common.Address{}) {
 			log.Error("Refusing to mine without etherbase")
 			return
 		}
-		coinbase = w.coinbase // Use the preset address as the fee recipient
 	}
 	work, err := w.prepareWork(&generateParams{
 		timestamp: uint64(timestamp),