diff --git a/lib/bitcoind.js b/lib/bitcoind.js
index c52779ea..cc9efed6 100644
--- a/lib/bitcoind.js
+++ b/lib/bitcoind.js
@@ -380,13 +380,13 @@ Bitcoin.prototype.getBlockHeight = function(height, callback) {
 
 Bitcoin.prototype.getTransaction =
 Bitcoin.prototype.getTx = function(txid, blockhash, callback) {
-  var traverse = false;
-  if (typeof txid === 'object') {
+  var traverse = true;
+  if (typeof txid === 'object' && txid) {
     var options = txid;
     callback = blockhash;
     txid = options.txid || options.tx || options.txhash || options.id || options.hash;
     blockhash = options.blockhash || options.block;
-    traverse = options.traverse;
+    traverse = options.traverse !== false;
   }
   if (typeof blockhash === 'function') {
     callback = blockhash;