diff --git a/internal/web3ext/web3ext.go b/internal/web3ext/web3ext.go
index 33769f557d..ac6acc799c 100644
--- a/internal/web3ext/web3ext.go
+++ b/internal/web3ext/web3ext.go
@@ -826,7 +826,7 @@ web3._extend({
 		new web3._extend.Method({
 			name: 'updateBalance',
 			call: 'les_updateBalance',
-			params: 4
+			params: 3
 		}),
 	],
 	properties:
diff --git a/les/api.go b/les/api.go
index f8e406fc20..7582ccc45e 100644
--- a/les/api.go
+++ b/les/api.go
@@ -235,8 +235,8 @@ loop:
 
 // UpdateBalance updates the balance of a client (either overwrites it or adds to it).
 // It also updates the balance meta info string.
-func (api *PrivateLightServerAPI) UpdateBalance(id enode.ID, value int64, add bool, meta string) error {
-	return api.server.clientPool.updateBalance(id, value, add, meta)
+func (api *PrivateLightServerAPI) UpdateBalance(id enode.ID, value int64, meta string) error {
+	return api.server.clientPool.updateBalance(id, value, meta)
 }
 
 // SetClientParams sets client parameters for all clients listed in the ids list
diff --git a/les/clientpool.go b/les/clientpool.go
index d12deed032..78b24fe3e7 100644
--- a/les/clientpool.go
+++ b/les/clientpool.go
@@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ func (f *clientPool) getPosBalance(id enode.ID) posBalance {
 
 // updateBalance updates the balance of a client (either overwrites it or adds to it).
 // It also updates the balance meta info string.
-func (f *clientPool) updateBalance(id enode.ID, amount int64, add bool, meta string) error {
+func (f *clientPool) updateBalance(id enode.ID, amount int64, meta string) error {
 	f.lock.Lock()
 	defer f.lock.Unlock()
 
@@ -588,27 +588,17 @@ func (f *clientPool) updateBalance(id enode.ID, amount int64, add bool, meta str
 			c.balanceMetaInfo = meta
 		}()
 	}
-	if add {
-		if amount > 0 {
-			if amount > maxBalance || pb.value > maxBalance-uint64(amount) {
-				return errBalanceOverflow
-			}
-			pb.value += uint64(amount)
-		} else {
-			if uint64(-amount) > pb.value {
-				pb.value = 0
-			} else {
-				pb.value -= uint64(-amount)
-			}
-		}
-	} else {
-		if amount > maxBalance {
+	if amount > 0 {
+		if amount > maxBalance || pb.value > maxBalance-uint64(amount) {
 			return errBalanceOverflow
 		}
-		if amount < 0 {
-			amount = 0
+		pb.value += uint64(amount)
+	} else {
+		if uint64(-amount) > pb.value {
+			pb.value = 0
+		} else {
+			pb.value -= uint64(-amount)
 		}
-		pb.value = uint64(amount)
 	}
 	pb.meta = meta
 	f.ndb.setPB(id, pb)