diff --git a/rlp.go b/rlp.go
index 2ea8ff0942..2c04317aec 100644
--- a/rlp.go
+++ b/rlp.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func Decode(data []byte, pos int) (interface{}, int) {
   slice := make([]interface{}, 0)
   switch {
   case char < 24:
-    return append(slice, data[pos]), pos + 1
+    return data[pos], pos + 1
   case char < 56:
     b := int(data[pos]) - 23
     return FromBin(data[pos+1 : pos+1+b]), pos + 1 + b
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func Decode(data []byte, pos int) (interface{}, int) {
     return slice, pos
   case char < 192:
     b := int(data[pos]) - 183
-    //b2 := int(FromBin(data[pos+1 : pos+1+b])) (ref imprementation has an unused variable)
+    //b2 := int(FromBin(data[pos+1 : pos+1+b])) (ref implementation has an unused variable)
     pos = pos+1+b
     for i := 0; i < b; i++ {
       var obj interface{}
diff --git a/rlp_test.go b/rlp_test.go
index c2d5ba263a..ae8dcced40 100644
--- a/rlp_test.go
+++ b/rlp_test.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ func TestEncode(t *testing.T) {
   dec,_ := Decode(bytes, 0)
   fmt.Printf("raw: %v encoded: %q == %v\n", dec, str, "dog")
 
-
   sliceRes := "\x83CdogCgodCcat"
   strs := []string{"dog", "god", "cat"}
   bytes = Encode(strs)
@@ -27,3 +26,10 @@ func TestEncode(t *testing.T) {
   dec,_ = Decode(bytes, 0)
   fmt.Printf("raw: %v encoded: %q == %v\n", dec, slice, strs)
 }
+
+func BenchmarkEncodeDecode(b *testing.B) {
+  for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+    bytes := Encode([]string{"dog", "god", "cat"})
+    Decode(bytes, 0)
+  }
+}