diff --git a/accounts/account_manager.go b/accounts/account_manager.go
index e79ec51a2e..4519c84209 100644
--- a/accounts/account_manager.go
+++ b/accounts/account_manager.go
@@ -81,19 +81,6 @@ func (am *Manager) HasAccount(addr common.Address) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-func (am *Manager) Primary() (addr common.Address, err error) {
-	addrs, err := am.keyStore.GetKeyAddresses()
-	if os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		return common.Address{}, ErrNoKeys
-	} else if err != nil {
-		return common.Address{}, err
-	}
-	if len(addrs) == 0 {
-		return common.Address{}, ErrNoKeys
-	}
-	return addrs[0], nil
-}
-
 func (am *Manager) DeleteAccount(address common.Address, auth string) error {
 	return am.keyStore.DeleteKey(address, auth)
 }
diff --git a/accounts/accounts_test.go b/accounts/accounts_test.go
index 6065fa8e44..8bd70880c1 100644
--- a/accounts/accounts_test.go
+++ b/accounts/accounts_test.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ func TestSign(t *testing.T) {
 	pass := "" // not used but required by API
 	a1, err := am.NewAccount(pass)
 	toSign := randentropy.GetEntropyCSPRNG(32)
-	am.Unlock(a1.Address, "", 0)
+	am.Unlock(a1.Address, "")
 
 	_, err = am.Sign(a1, toSign)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/geth/js_test.go b/cmd/geth/js_test.go
index cfbe26bee5..fc2444a7bb 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/js_test.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/js_test.go
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ func TestAccounts(t *testing.T) {
 	defer os.RemoveAll(tmp)
 
 	checkEvalJSON(t, repl, `eth.accounts`, `["`+testAddress+`"]`)
-	checkEvalJSON(t, repl, `eth.coinbase`, `"`+testAddress+`"`)
+	checkEvalJSON(t, repl, `eth.coinbase`, `"`+common.Address{}.Hex()+`"`)
 
 	val, err := repl.re.Run(`personal.newAccount("password")`)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/geth/main.go b/cmd/geth/main.go
index be40d5137c..b20c6d85d1 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/main.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/main.go
@@ -153,9 +153,12 @@ Note that exporting your key in unencrypted format is NOT supported.
 
 Keys are stored under <DATADIR>/keys.
 It is safe to transfer the entire directory or the individual keys therein
-between ethereum nodes.
+between ethereum nodes by simply copying.
 Make sure you backup your keys regularly.
 
+In order to use your account to send transactions, you need to unlock them using the
+'--unlock' option. The argument is a comma
+
 And finally. DO NOT FORGET YOUR PASSWORD.
 `,
 			Subcommands: []cli.Command{
@@ -430,7 +433,7 @@ func execJSFiles(ctx *cli.Context) {
 	ethereum.WaitForShutdown()
 }
 
-func unlockAccount(ctx *cli.Context, am *accounts.Manager, account string) (passphrase string) {
+func unlockAccount(ctx *cli.Context, am *accounts.Manager, account string, i int) {
 	var err error
 	// Load startup keys. XXX we are going to need a different format
 
@@ -441,7 +444,7 @@ func unlockAccount(ctx *cli.Context, am *accounts.Manager, account string) (pass
 	attempts := 3
 	for tries := 0; tries < attempts; tries++ {
 		msg := fmt.Sprintf("Unlocking account %s | Attempt %d/%d", account, tries+1, attempts)
-		passphrase = getPassPhrase(ctx, msg, false)
+		passphrase := getPassPhrase(ctx, msg, false, i)
 		err = am.Unlock(common.HexToAddress(account), passphrase)
 		if err == nil {
 			break
@@ -451,7 +454,6 @@ func unlockAccount(ctx *cli.Context, am *accounts.Manager, account string) (pass
 		utils.Fatalf("Unlock account failed '%v'", err)
 	}
 	fmt.Printf("Account '%s' unlocked.\n", account)
-	return
 }
 
 func blockRecovery(ctx *cli.Context) {
@@ -492,16 +494,12 @@ func startEth(ctx *cli.Context, eth *eth.Ethereum) {
 
 	account := ctx.GlobalString(utils.UnlockedAccountFlag.Name)
 	accounts := strings.Split(account, " ")
-	for _, account := range accounts {
+	for i, account := range accounts {
 		if len(account) > 0 {
 			if account == "primary" {
-				primaryAcc, err := am.Primary()
-				if err != nil {
-					utils.Fatalf("no primary account: %v", err)
-				}
-				account = primaryAcc.Hex()
+				utils.Fatalf("the 'primary' keyword is deprecated. You can use indexes, but the indexes are not permanent, they can change if you add external keys, export your keys or copy your keystore to another node.")
 			}
-			unlockAccount(ctx, am, account)
+			unlockAccount(ctx, am, account, i)
 		}
 	}
 	// Start auxiliary services if enabled.
@@ -535,7 +533,7 @@ func accountList(ctx *cli.Context) {
 	}
 }
 
-func getPassPhrase(ctx *cli.Context, desc string, confirmation bool) (passphrase string) {
+func getPassPhrase(ctx *cli.Context, desc string, confirmation bool, i int) (passphrase string) {
 	passfile := ctx.GlobalString(utils.PasswordFileFlag.Name)
 	if len(passfile) == 0 {
 		fmt.Println(desc)
@@ -559,14 +557,22 @@ func getPassPhrase(ctx *cli.Context, desc string, confirmation bool) (passphrase
 		if err != nil {
 			utils.Fatalf("Unable to read password file '%s': %v", passfile, err)
 		}
-		passphrase = string(passbytes)
+		// this is backwards compatible if the same password unlocks several accounts
+		// it also has the consequence that trailing newlines will not count as part
+		// of the password, so --password <(echo -n 'pass') will now work without -n
+		passphrases := strings.Split(string(passbytes), "\n")
+		if i >= len(passphrases) {
+			passphrase = passphrases[len(passphrases)-1]
+		} else {
+			passphrase = passphrases[i]
+		}
 	}
 	return
 }
 
 func accountCreate(ctx *cli.Context) {
 	am := utils.MakeAccountManager(ctx)
-	passphrase := getPassPhrase(ctx, "Your new account is locked with a password. Please give a password. Do not forget this password.", true)
+	passphrase := getPassPhrase(ctx, "Your new account is locked with a password. Please give a password. Do not forget this password.", true, 0)
 	acct, err := am.NewAccount(passphrase)
 	if err != nil {
 		utils.Fatalf("Could not create the account: %v", err)
@@ -585,7 +591,7 @@ func importWallet(ctx *cli.Context) {
 	}
 
 	am := utils.MakeAccountManager(ctx)
-	passphrase := getPassPhrase(ctx, "", false)
+	passphrase := getPassPhrase(ctx, "", false, 0)
 
 	acct, err := am.ImportPreSaleKey(keyJson, passphrase)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -600,7 +606,7 @@ func accountImport(ctx *cli.Context) {
 		utils.Fatalf("keyfile must be given as argument")
 	}
 	am := utils.MakeAccountManager(ctx)
-	passphrase := getPassPhrase(ctx, "Your new account is locked with a password. Please give a password. Do not forget this password.", true)
+	passphrase := getPassPhrase(ctx, "Your new account is locked with a password. Please give a password. Do not forget this password.", true, 0)
 	acct, err := am.Import(keyfile, passphrase)
 	if err != nil {
 		utils.Fatalf("Could not create the account: %v", err)
diff --git a/cmd/utils/flags.go b/cmd/utils/flags.go
index 6f319eb407..7460f51e18 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/flags.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/flags.go
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ var (
 
 	UnlockedAccountFlag = cli.StringFlag{
 		Name:  "unlock",
-		Usage: "Unlock the account given until this program exits (prompts for password). '--unlock primary' unlocks the primary account",
+		Usage: "Unlock the account given until this program exits (prompts for password). '--unlock n' unlocks the n-th account in order or creation.",
 		Value: "",
 	}
 	PasswordFileFlag = cli.StringFlag{
diff --git a/eth/backend.go b/eth/backend.go
index d6ad3381da..ce774ba1bc 100644
--- a/eth/backend.go
+++ b/eth/backend.go
@@ -464,15 +464,8 @@ func (s *Ethereum) StartMining(threads int) error {
 func (s *Ethereum) Etherbase() (eb common.Address, err error) {
 	eb = s.etherbase
 	if (eb == common.Address{}) {
-		primary, err := s.accountManager.Primary()
-		if err != nil {
-			return eb, err
-		}
-		if (primary == common.Address{}) {
-			err = fmt.Errorf("no accounts found")
-			return eb, err
-		}
-		eb = primary
+		err = fmt.Errorf("no accounts found")
+		return eb, err
 	}
 	return eb, nil
 }