diff --git a/jmclient/jmclient/blockchaininterface.py b/jmclient/jmclient/blockchaininterface.py
index caf67c2..a7536f1 100644
--- a/jmclient/jmclient/blockchaininterface.py
+++ b/jmclient/jmclient/blockchaininterface.py
@@ -406,20 +406,27 @@ class BitcoinCoreInterface(BlockchainInterface):
         return result
 
     def estimate_fee_per_kb(self, N):
+        """ The argument N may be either a number of blocks target,
+        for estimation of feerate by Core, or a number of satoshis
+        per kilo-vbyte (see `fee_per_kb_has_been_manually_set` for
+        how this is distinguished).
+        In the latter case, it is prevented from falling below the
+        minimum allowed feerate for relay on the Bitcoin network.
+        """
         if super().fee_per_kb_has_been_manually_set(N):
-            # use the local bitcoin core relay fee as floor to avoid relay problems
+            # use the local bitcoin core relay fee as floor to avoid relay
+            # problems
             btc_relayfee = -1
             rpc_result = self._rpc('getnetworkinfo', None)
             btc_relayfee = rpc_result.get('relayfee', btc_relayfee)
             if btc_relayfee > 0:
                 relayfee_in_sat = int(Decimal(1e8) * Decimal(btc_relayfee))
-                log.info("Using this min relay fee as tx fee floor: " +
-                    btc.fee_per_kb_to_str(relayfee_in_sat))
-                return int(max(relayfee_in_sat, random.uniform(N * float(0.8), N * float(1.2))))
             else:   # cannot get valid relayfee: fall back to 1000 sat/kbyte
-                log.info("Using this min relay fee as tx fee floor " +
-                    "(fallback): " + btc.fee_per_kb_to_str(1000))
-                return int(max(1000, random.uniform(N * float(0.8), N * float(1.2))))
+                relayfee_in_sat = 1000
+            log.debug("Using this min relay fee as tx feerate per kB floor: " +
+                btc.fee_per_kb_to_str(1000))
+            return int(max(relayfee_in_sat, random.uniform(N * float(0.8),
+                                                           N * float(1.2))))
 
         # Special bitcoin core case: sometimes the highest priority
         # cannot be estimated in that case the 2nd highest priority
@@ -438,7 +445,8 @@ class BitcoinCoreInterface(BlockchainInterface):
 
         if retval == -1:
             retval = int(Decimal(1e8) * Decimal(estimate))
-        log.info("Using tx fee: " + btc.fee_per_kb_to_str(retval))
+        log.info("Using bitcoin network feerate (per kB in sats): " +\
+                 btc.fee_per_kb_to_str(retval))
         return retval
 
     def get_current_block_height(self):
diff --git a/scripts/sendpayment.py b/scripts/sendpayment.py
index 285f153..78bb250 100755
--- a/scripts/sendpayment.py
+++ b/scripts/sendpayment.py
@@ -172,17 +172,19 @@ def main():
     # the sync call here will now be a no-op:
     wallet_service.startService()
 
-    # Dynamically estimate a realistic fee.
+    # Dynamically estimate a realistic fee, for coinjoins.
     # At this point we do not know even the number of our own inputs, so
     # we guess conservatively with 2 inputs and 2 outputs each.
-    fee_per_cp_guess = estimate_tx_fee(2, 2, txtype=wallet_service.get_txtype())
-    log.debug("Estimated miner/tx fee for each cj participant: " + str(
-        fee_per_cp_guess))
+    if options.makercount != 0:
+        fee_per_cp_guess = estimate_tx_fee(2, 2,
+                                           txtype=wallet_service.get_txtype())
+        log.debug("Estimated miner/tx fee for each cj participant: " + str(
+            fee_per_cp_guess))
 
     # From the estimated tx fees, check if the expected amount is a
     # significant value compared the the cj amount; currently enabled
     # only for single join (the predominant, non-advanced case)
-    if options.schedule == '':
+    if options.schedule == '' and options.makercount != 0:
         total_cj_amount = amount
         if total_cj_amount == 0:
             total_cj_amount = wallet_service.get_balance_by_mixdepth()[options.mixdepth]