diff --git a/signedjson/key.py b/signedjson/key.py
index 4d9b91d..e64e06a 100644
--- a/signedjson/key.py
+++ b/signedjson/key.py
@@ -100,6 +100,21 @@ def is_signing_algorithm_supported(key_id):
         return False
 
 
+def decode_verify_key_base64(algorithm, version, key_base64):
+    # type: (str, str, str) -> VerifyKey
+    """Decode a base64 encoded verify key
+    Args:
+        algorithm (str): The algorithm the key is for (currently "ed25519").
+        version (str): Identifies this key out of the keys for this entity.
+        key_base64 (str): Base64 encoded bytes of the key.
+    Returns:
+        A VerifyKey object.
+    """
+    key_id = "%s:%s" % (algorithm, version)
+    key_bytes = decode_base64(key_base64)
+    return decode_verify_key_bytes(key_id, key_bytes)
+
+
 def decode_verify_key_bytes(key_id, key_bytes):
     # type: (str, bytes) -> VerifyKey
     """Decode a raw verify key
@@ -146,8 +161,7 @@ def read_old_signing_keys(stream):
     keys = []
     for line in stream:
         algorithm, version, expired, key_base64 = line.split()
-        key_name = "%s:%s" % (algorithm, version,)
-        key = decode_verify_key_bytes(key_name, decode_base64(key_base64))
+        key = decode_verify_key_base64(algorithm, version, key_base64)
         key.expired = int(expired)
         keys.append(key)
     return keys
diff --git a/tests/test_key.py b/tests/test_key.py
index e163167..25ee4ff 100644
--- a/tests/test_key.py
+++ b/tests/test_key.py
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
-
 import unittest
 
 from signedjson.key import (
-    generate_signing_key,
-    get_verify_key,
     decode_signing_key_base64,
+    decode_verify_key_base64,
     decode_verify_key_bytes,
     encode_signing_key_base64,
-    is_signing_algorithm_supported,
     encode_verify_key_base64,
-    read_signing_keys,
+    generate_signing_key,
+    get_verify_key,
+    is_signing_algorithm_supported,
     read_old_signing_keys,
-    write_signing_keys
+    read_signing_keys,
+    write_signing_keys,
 )
 
 
@@ -50,6 +50,25 @@ def test_decode_invalid_key(self):
         with self.assertRaises(Exception):
             decode_signing_key_base64("ed25519", self.version, "")
 
+    def test_decode_verify_key(self):
+        decoded_key = decode_verify_key_base64(
+            "ed25519", self.version, self.verify_key_base64
+        )
+        self.assertEquals(decoded_key.alg, "ed25519")
+        self.assertEquals(decoded_key.version, self.version)
+
+    def test_decode_verify_key_invalid_base64(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(Exception):
+            decode_verify_key_base64("ed25519", self.version, "not base 64")
+
+    def test_decode_verify_key_invalid_algorithm(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(Exception):
+            decode_verify_key_base64("not a valid alg", self.version, "")
+
+    def test_decode_verify_key_invalid_key(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(Exception):
+            decode_verify_key_base64("ed25519", self.version, "")
+
     def test_read_keys(self):
         stream = ["ed25519 %s %s" % (self.version, self.key_base64)]
         keys = read_signing_keys(stream)
@@ -68,6 +87,7 @@ def test_write_signing_keys(self):
         class MockStream(object):
             def write(self, data):
                 pass
+
         write_signing_keys(MockStream(), [self.key])