diff --git a/src/rpcblockchain.cpp b/src/rpcblockchain.cpp
index 580c6bd5ba..a67f266a13 100644
--- a/src/rpcblockchain.cpp
+++ b/src/rpcblockchain.cpp
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ Object blockToJSON(const CBlock& block, const CBlockIndex* blockindex)
     result.push_back(Pair("tx", txs));
     result.push_back(Pair("time", block.GetBlockTime()));
     result.push_back(Pair("nonce", (uint64_t)block.nNonce));
-    result.push_back(Pair("bits", HexBits(block.nBits)));
+    result.push_back(Pair("bits", strprintf("%08x", block.nBits)));
     result.push_back(Pair("difficulty", GetDifficulty(blockindex)));
     result.push_back(Pair("chainwork", blockindex->nChainWork.GetHex()));
 
diff --git a/src/rpcmining.cpp b/src/rpcmining.cpp
index 98caf704ee..db60ef3592 100644
--- a/src/rpcmining.cpp
+++ b/src/rpcmining.cpp
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ Value getblocktemplate(const Array& params, bool fHelp)
     result.push_back(Pair("sigoplimit", (int64_t)MAX_BLOCK_SIGOPS));
     result.push_back(Pair("sizelimit", (int64_t)MAX_BLOCK_SIZE));
     result.push_back(Pair("curtime", (int64_t)pblock->nTime));
-    result.push_back(Pair("bits", HexBits(pblock->nBits)));
+    result.push_back(Pair("bits", strprintf("%08x", pblock->nBits)));
     result.push_back(Pair("height", (int64_t)(pindexPrev->nHeight+1)));
 
     return result;
diff --git a/src/rpcserver.cpp b/src/rpcserver.cpp
index 54043458d5..6a87c8bf99 100644
--- a/src/rpcserver.cpp
+++ b/src/rpcserver.cpp
@@ -97,16 +97,6 @@ Value ValueFromAmount(int64_t amount)
     return (double)amount / (double)COIN;
 }
 
-std::string HexBits(unsigned int nBits)
-{
-    union {
-        int32_t nBits;
-        char cBits[4];
-    } uBits;
-    uBits.nBits = htonl((int32_t)nBits);
-    return HexStr(BEGIN(uBits.cBits), END(uBits.cBits));
-}
-
 uint256 ParseHashV(const Value& v, string strName)
 {
     string strHex;
diff --git a/src/rpcserver.h b/src/rpcserver.h
index fcd293663f..01e77163c4 100644
--- a/src/rpcserver.h
+++ b/src/rpcserver.h
@@ -116,7 +116,6 @@ extern int64_t nWalletUnlockTime;
 extern int64_t AmountFromValue(const json_spirit::Value& value);
 extern json_spirit::Value ValueFromAmount(int64_t amount);
 extern double GetDifficulty(const CBlockIndex* blockindex = NULL);
-extern std::string HexBits(unsigned int nBits);
 extern std::string HelpRequiringPassphrase();
 extern std::string HelpExampleCli(std::string methodname, std::string args);
 extern std::string HelpExampleRpc(std::string methodname, std::string args);