diff --git a/lite-client/lite-client.cpp b/lite-client/lite-client.cpp
index 1ccfec86..f472af21 100644
--- a/lite-client/lite-client.cpp
+++ b/lite-client/lite-client.cpp
@@ -4261,6 +4261,8 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
   });
   p.add_option('p', "pub", "remote public key",
                [&](td::Slice arg) { td::actor::send_closure(x, &TestNode::set_public_key, td::BufferSlice{arg}); });
+  p.add_option('b', "b64", "remote public key as base64",
+               [&](td::Slice arg) { td::actor::send_closure(x, &TestNode::decode_public_key, td::BufferSlice{arg}); });
   p.add_option('d', "daemonize", "set SIGHUP", [&]() {
     td::set_signal_handler(td::SignalType::HangUp, [](int sig) {
 #if TD_DARWIN || TD_LINUX
diff --git a/lite-client/lite-client.h b/lite-client/lite-client.h
index 7184652a..00d8bd07 100644
--- a/lite-client/lite-client.h
+++ b/lite-client/lite-client.h
@@ -394,6 +394,18 @@ class TestNode : public td::actor::Actor {
     }
     remote_public_key_ = R.move_as_ok();
   }
+  void decode_public_key(td::BufferSlice b64_key) {
+    auto R = [&]() -> td::Result<ton::PublicKey> {
+      std::string key_bytes = {(char)0xc6, (char)0xb4, (char)0x13, (char)0x48};
+      key_bytes = key_bytes + td::base64_decode(b64_key.as_slice().str()).move_as_ok();
+      return ton::PublicKey::import(key_bytes);
+    }();
+
+    if (R.is_error()) {
+      LOG(FATAL) << "bad b64 server public key: " << R.move_as_error();
+    }
+    remote_public_key_ = R.move_as_ok();
+  }
   void set_fail_timeout(td::Timestamp ts) {
     fail_timeout_ = ts;
     alarm_timestamp().relax(fail_timeout_);