diff --git a/core/java/src/net/i2p/data/LeaseSet2.java b/core/java/src/net/i2p/data/LeaseSet2.java
index 6daec7ff1..e62b2ebad 100644
--- a/core/java/src/net/i2p/data/LeaseSet2.java
+++ b/core/java/src/net/i2p/data/LeaseSet2.java
@@ -37,8 +37,6 @@ public class LeaseSet2 extends LeaseSet {
     protected Signature _offlineSignature;
     // may be null
     protected Properties _options;
-    // only used for unknown types; else use _encryptionKey.getType()
-    private int _encType;
     // only used if more than one key, otherwise null
     private List<PublicKey> _encryptionKeys;
 
@@ -236,18 +234,21 @@ public class LeaseSet2 extends LeaseSet {
         if (numKeys > 1)
             _encryptionKeys = new ArrayList<PublicKey>(numKeys);
         for (int i = 0; i < numKeys; i++) {
-            _encType = (int) DataHelper.readLong(in, 2);
+            int encType = (int) DataHelper.readLong(in, 2);
             int encLen = (int) DataHelper.readLong(in, 2);
             // TODO
-            if (_encType == 0) {
+            if (encType == 0) {
                 _encryptionKey = PublicKey.create(in);
             } else {
-                EncType type = EncType.getByCode(_encType);
+                EncType type = EncType.getByCode(encType);
                 // type will be null if unknown
                 byte[] encKey = new byte[encLen];
                 DataHelper.read(in, encKey);
                 // this will throw IAE if type is non-null and length is wrong
-                _encryptionKey = new PublicKey(type, encKey);
+                if (type != null)
+                    _encryptionKey = new PublicKey(type, encKey);
+                else
+                    _encryptionKey = new PublicKey(encType, encKey);
             }
             if (numKeys > 1)
                 _encryptionKeys.add(_encryptionKey);
@@ -299,7 +300,7 @@ public class LeaseSet2 extends LeaseSet {
             if (type != null) {
                 DataHelper.writeLong(out, 2, type.getCode());
             } else {
-                DataHelper.writeLong(out, 2, _encType);
+                DataHelper.writeLong(out, 2, key.getUnknownTypeCode());
             }
             DataHelper.writeLong(out, 2, key.length());
             key.writeBytes(out);
@@ -560,6 +561,14 @@ public class LeaseSet2 extends LeaseSet {
         net.i2p.crypto.KeyPair encKeys2 = net.i2p.crypto.KeyGenerator.getInstance().generatePKIKeys(net.i2p.crypto.EncType.ECIES_X25519);
         pubKey = encKeys2.getPublic();
         ls2.addEncryptionKey(pubKey);
+        byte[] b = new byte[99];
+        rand.nextBytes(b);
+        pubKey = new PublicKey(77, b);
+        ls2.addEncryptionKey(pubKey);
+        b = new byte[55];
+        rand.nextBytes(b);
+        pubKey = new PublicKey(177, b);
+        ls2.addEncryptionKey(pubKey);
         SigningPrivateKey spk = pkf.getSigningPrivKey();
         if (offline) {
             now += 365*24*60*60*1000L;
diff --git a/core/java/src/net/i2p/data/PublicKey.java b/core/java/src/net/i2p/data/PublicKey.java
index ea459c454..d6156d5a6 100644
--- a/core/java/src/net/i2p/data/PublicKey.java
+++ b/core/java/src/net/i2p/data/PublicKey.java
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ public class PublicKey extends SimpleDataStructure {
     private static final SDSCache<PublicKey> _cache = new SDSCache<PublicKey>(PublicKey.class, KEYSIZE_BYTES, CACHE_SIZE);
 
     private final EncType _type;
+    private final int _unknownTypeCode;
 
     /**
      * Pull from cache or return new.
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ public class PublicKey extends SimpleDataStructure {
     public PublicKey(EncType type) {
         super();
         _type = type;
+        _unknownTypeCode = (type != null) ? type.getCode() : -1;
     }
 
     /** @param data must be non-null */
@@ -82,7 +84,24 @@ public class PublicKey extends SimpleDataStructure {
         setData(data);
     }
 
-    /** constructs from base64
+    /**
+     *  Unknown type only.
+     *  @param typeCode must not match a known type. 1-255
+     *  @param data must be non-null
+     *  @since 0.9.38
+     */
+    public PublicKey(int typeCode, byte data[]) {
+        _type = null;
+        if (data == null)
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Data must be specified");
+        _data = data;
+        if (typeCode <= 0 || typeCode > 255)
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException();
+        _unknownTypeCode = typeCode;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Constructs from base64. ElGamal only.
      * @param base64Data a string of base64 data (the output of .toBase64() called
      * on a prior instance of PublicKey
      */
@@ -107,6 +126,14 @@ public class PublicKey extends SimpleDataStructure {
         return _type;
     }
 
+    /**
+     *  Only valid if getType() returns null
+     *  @since 0.9.38
+     */
+    public int getUnknownTypeCode() {
+        return _unknownTypeCode;
+    }
+
     /**
      *  @since 0.9.17
      */
@@ -120,7 +147,7 @@ public class PublicKey extends SimpleDataStructure {
     @Override
     public String toString() {
         StringBuilder buf = new StringBuilder(64);
-        buf.append("[PublicKey ").append((_type != null) ? _type.toString() : "unknown type").append(' ');
+        buf.append("[PublicKey ").append((_type != null) ? _type.toString() : "unknown type: " + _unknownTypeCode).append(' ');
         if (_data == null) {
             buf.append("null");
         } else {