diff --git a/lib/http/rpc.js b/lib/http/rpc.js
index ec1f9813..4a16dc99 100644
--- a/lib/http/rpc.js
+++ b/lib/http/rpc.js
@@ -1514,7 +1514,8 @@ RPC.prototype.getblocktemplate = co(function* getblocktemplate(args) {
   var mode = 'template';
   var version = -1;
   var coinbase = false;
-  var i, opt, lpid, rules, cap, block;
+  var rules = [];
+  var i, opt, lpid, cap, block;
   var coinbasevalue, coinbasetxn;
 
   if (args.help || args.length > 1)
@@ -1541,7 +1542,6 @@ RPC.prototype.getblocktemplate = co(function* getblocktemplate(args) {
     }
 
     if (Array.isArray(opt.rules)) {
-      rules = [];
       for (i = 0; i < opt.rules.length; i++)
         rules.push(toString(opt.rules[i]));
     } else if (util.isNumber(opt.maxversion)) {
@@ -1648,21 +1648,24 @@ RPC.prototype.__template = co(function* _template(version, coinbase, rules) {
       case common.thresholdStates.LOCKED_IN:
         block.version |= 1 << deploy.bit;
       case common.thresholdStates.STARTED:
-        vbavailable[name] = deploy.bit;
-        if (rules) {
-          if (rules.indexOf(name) === -1 && !deploy.force)
+        if (!deploy.force) {
+          if (rules.indexOf(name) === -1)
             block.version &= ~(1 << deploy.bit);
+          name = '!' + name;
         }
+        vbavailable[name] = deploy.bit;
         break;
       case common.thresholdStates.ACTIVE:
-        if (rules) {
-          if (rules.indexOf(name) === -1 && !deploy.force)
+        if (!deploy.force) {
+          if (rules.indexOf(name) === -1)
             throw new RPCError('Client must support ' + name + '.');
-        }
-        if (!deploy.force)
           name = '!' + name;
+        }
         vbrules.push(name);
         break;
+      default:
+        assert(false, 'Bad state.');
+        break;
     }
   }