diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index bd2a259..778fd92 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+*.swp
 vendor
 .keys
 tmcli
diff --git a/commands/proofs/get.go b/commands/proofs/get.go
index 3a4c769..1429cfe 100644
--- a/commands/proofs/get.go
+++ b/commands/proofs/get.go
@@ -13,11 +13,12 @@ import (
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/rpc/client"
 )
 
+// GetCmd creates the get command for a proof
 func (p ProofCommander) GetCmd() *cobra.Command {
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:          "get",
 		Short:        "Get a proof from the tendermint node",
-		RunE:         p.doGet,
+		RunE:         p.getCmd,
 		SilenceUsage: true,
 	}
 	cmd.Flags().Int(heightFlag, 0, "Height to query (skip to use latest block)")
@@ -26,18 +27,27 @@ func (p ProofCommander) GetCmd() *cobra.Command {
 	return cmd
 }
 
-func (p ProofCommander) doGet(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+func (p ProofCommander) getCmd(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	app := viper.GetString(appFlag)
-	pres, err := p.Lookup(app)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
 
 	rawkey := viper.GetString(keyFlag)
 	if rawkey == "" {
 		return errors.New("missing required flag: --" + keyFlag)
 	}
 
+	height := viper.GetInt(heightFlag)
+
+	return DoGet(p, app, rawkey, height)
+}
+
+// DoGet performs the get command directly from the proof (not from the CLI)
+func DoGet(p ProofCommander, app, rawkey string, height int) error {
+
+	pres, err := p.Lookup(app)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	// prepare the query in an app-dependent manner
 	key, err := pres.MakeKey(rawkey)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -46,13 +56,11 @@ func (p ProofCommander) doGet(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 
 	// instantiate the prover instance and get a proof from the server
 	p.Init()
-	h := viper.GetInt(heightFlag)
-	proof, err := p.Get(key, uint64(h))
+	proof, err := p.Get(key, uint64(height))
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	ph := int(proof.BlockHeight())
-
 	// here is the certifier, root of all knowledge
 	cert, err := commands.GetCertifier()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -69,7 +77,10 @@ func (p ProofCommander) doGet(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	check := lc.Checkpoint{commit.Header, commit.Commit}
+	check := lc.Checkpoint{
+		Header: commit.Header,
+		Commit: commit.Commit,
+	}
 	err = cert.Certify(check)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/commands/proofs/root.go b/commands/proofs/root.go
index 7d16c75..8811e02 100644
--- a/commands/proofs/root.go
+++ b/commands/proofs/root.go
@@ -36,7 +36,13 @@ func (p *ProofCommander) Init() {
 	p.Prover = p.ProverFunc(p.node)
 }
 
-func (p ProofCommander) Register(parent *cobra.Command) {
+func (p ProofCommander) Register(parent *cobra.Command, cmdReg func(ProofCommander) *cobra.Command) {
+	// we add each subcommand here, so we can register the
+	// ProofCommander in one swoop
+	parent.AddCommand(cmdReg(p))
+}
+
+func (p ProofCommander) RegisterGet(parent *cobra.Command) {
 	// we add each subcommand here, so we can register the
 	// ProofCommander in one swoop
 	parent.AddCommand(p.GetCmd())
diff --git a/commands/proofs/state.go b/commands/proofs/state.go
index 27fbb4a..cfb908a 100644
--- a/commands/proofs/state.go
+++ b/commands/proofs/state.go
@@ -20,12 +20,13 @@ data to other peers as needed.
 `,
 }
 
+var stateProverCommander = ProofCommander{
+	ProverFunc: stateProver,
+	Presenters: StatePresenters,
+}
+
 func init() {
-	stateProver := ProofCommander{
-		ProverFunc: stateProver,
-		Presenters: StatePresenters,
-	}
-	stateProver.Register(stateCmd)
+	stateProverCommander.RegisterGet(stateCmd)
 	RootCmd.AddCommand(stateCmd)
 }
 
@@ -34,6 +35,6 @@ func stateProver(node client.Client) lc.Prover {
 }
 
 // RegisterProofStateSubcommand registers a subcommand to proof state cmd
-func RegisterProofStateSubcommand(cmd *cobra.Command) {
-	stateCmd.AddCommand(cmd)
+func RegisterProofStateSubcommand(cmdReg func(ProofCommander) *cobra.Command) {
+	stateProverCommander.Register(stateCmd, cmdReg)
 }
diff --git a/commands/proofs/tx.go b/commands/proofs/tx.go
index 7f71dcf..f9313ed 100644
--- a/commands/proofs/tx.go
+++ b/commands/proofs/tx.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ func init() {
 		ProverFunc: txProver,
 		Presenters: TxPresenters,
 	}
-	txProver.Register(txCmd)
+	txProver.RegisterGet(txCmd)
 	RootCmd.AddCommand(txCmd)
 }