diff --git a/app/scripts/config.js b/app/scripts/config.js
index c5f260583..1d4ff7c0d 100644
--- a/app/scripts/config.js
+++ b/app/scripts/config.js
@@ -2,11 +2,13 @@ const MAINET_RPC_URL = 'https://mainnet.infura.io/metamask'
 const ROPSTEN_RPC_URL = 'https://ropsten.infura.io/metamask'
 const KOVAN_RPC_URL = 'https://kovan.infura.io/metamask'
 const RINKEBY_RPC_URL = 'https://rinkeby.infura.io/metamask'
+const LOCALHOST_RPC_URL = 'http://localhost:8545'
 
 global.METAMASK_DEBUG = 'GULP_METAMASK_DEBUG'
 
 module.exports = {
   network: {
+    localhost: LOCALHOST_RPC_URL,
     mainnet: MAINET_RPC_URL,
     ropsten: ROPSTEN_RPC_URL,
     kovan: KOVAN_RPC_URL,
diff --git a/app/scripts/controllers/network.js b/app/scripts/controllers/network.js
index 9e05afe75..9079e0653 100644
--- a/app/scripts/controllers/network.js
+++ b/app/scripts/controllers/network.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ const RPC_ADDRESS_LIST = require('../config.js').network
 const DEFAULT_RPC = RPC_ADDRESS_LIST['rinkeby']
 
 module.exports = class NetworkController extends EventEmitter {
+  
   constructor (config) {
     super()
     config.provider.rpcTarget = this.getRpcAddressForType(config.provider.type, config.provider)
diff --git a/app/scripts/metamask-controller.js b/app/scripts/metamask-controller.js
index fa6f1a245..eb978115d 100644
--- a/app/scripts/metamask-controller.js
+++ b/app/scripts/metamask-controller.js
@@ -336,7 +336,6 @@ module.exports = class MetamaskController extends EventEmitter {
 
       // network management
       setProviderType: nodeify(networkController.setProviderType, networkController),
-      setDefaultRpc: nodeify(this.setDefaultRpc, this),
       setCustomRpc: nodeify(this.setCustomRpc, this),
 
       // PreferencesController
@@ -696,12 +695,6 @@ module.exports = class MetamaskController extends EventEmitter {
 
   // network
 
-  async setDefaultRpc () {
-    const localhost = 'http://localhost:8545'
-    this.networkController.setRpcTarget(localhost)
-    return localhost
-  }
-
   async setCustomRpc (rpcTarget, rpcList) {
     this.networkController.setRpcTarget(rpcTarget)
     await this.preferencesController.updateFrequentRpcList(rpcTarget)
diff --git a/ui/app/actions.js b/ui/app/actions.js
index e793e6a21..4844dd56e 100644
--- a/ui/app/actions.js
+++ b/ui/app/actions.js
@@ -126,7 +126,6 @@ var actions = {
   showAddTokenPage,
   addToken,
   setRpcTarget: setRpcTarget,
-  setDefaultRpcTarget: setDefaultRpcTarget,
   setProviderType: setProviderType,
   // loading overlay
   SHOW_LOADING: 'SHOW_LOADING_INDICATION',
@@ -706,16 +705,19 @@ function markAccountsFound () {
 // config
 //
 
-// default rpc target refers to localhost:8545 in this instance.
-function setDefaultRpcTarget () {
-  log.debug(`background.setDefaultRpcTarget`)
+function setProviderType (type) {
   return (dispatch) => {
-    background.setDefaultRpc((err, result) => {
+    log.debug(`background.setProviderType`)
+    background.setProviderType(type, (err, result) => {
       if (err) {
         log.error(err)
-        return dispatch(self.displayWarning('Had a problem changing networks.'))
+        return dispatch(self.displayWarning('Had a problem changing networks!'))
       }
     })
+    return {
+      type: actions.SET_PROVIDER_TYPE,
+      value: type,
+    }
   }
 }
 
@@ -744,15 +746,6 @@ function addToAddressBook (recipient, nickname) {
   }
 }
 
-function setProviderType (type) {
-  log.debug(`background.setProviderType`)
-  background.setProviderType(type)
-  return {
-    type: actions.SET_PROVIDER_TYPE,
-    value: type,
-  }
-}
-
 function useEtherscanProvider () {
   log.debug(`background.useEtherscanProvider`)
   background.useEtherscanProvider()
diff --git a/ui/app/app.js b/ui/app/app.js
index ee800ea90..50121b055 100644
--- a/ui/app/app.js
+++ b/ui/app/app.js
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ App.prototype.renderNetworkDropdown = function () {
       {
         key: 'default',
         closeMenu: () => this.setState({ isNetworkMenuOpen: !isOpen }),
-        onClick: () => props.dispatch(actions.setDefaultRpcTarget()),
+        onClick: () => props.dispatch(actions.setProviderType('localhost')),
         style: {
           fontSize: '18px',
         },