diff --git a/lib/wallet.py b/lib/wallet.py
index 9efc81465..817f20651 100644
--- a/lib/wallet.py
+++ b/lib/wallet.py
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ class Wallet:
         
 
     def init_seed(self, seed):
+        if self.seed: raise BaseException("a seed exists")
         if not seed: 
             seed = "%032x"%ecdsa.util.randrange( pow(2,128) ) 
         self.seed = seed