diff --git a/src/client/client_node_rpcs.ml b/src/client/client_node_rpcs.ml
index 9a6761267..74f04ea49 100644
--- a/src/client/client_node_rpcs.ml
+++ b/src/client/client_node_rpcs.ml
@@ -212,14 +212,16 @@ module Blocks = struct
 end
 
 module Operations = struct
+  let contents cctxt hashes =
+    call_service1 cctxt Services.Operations.contents hashes ()
   let monitor cctxt ?contents () =
     call_streamed_service0 cctxt Services.Operations.list
       { monitor = Some true ; contents }
 end
 
 module Protocols = struct
-  let bytes cctxt hash =
-    call_service1 cctxt Services.Protocols.bytes hash ()
+  let contents cctxt hash =
+    call_service1 cctxt Services.Protocols.contents hash ()
   let list cctxt ?contents () =
     call_service0 cctxt Services.Protocols.list { contents; monitor = Some false }
 end
diff --git a/src/client/client_node_rpcs.mli b/src/client/client_node_rpcs.mli
index be3794750..6340148e2 100644
--- a/src/client/client_node_rpcs.mli
+++ b/src/client/client_node_rpcs.mli
@@ -144,14 +144,21 @@ module Blocks : sig
 end
 
 module Operations : sig
+
+  val contents:
+    Client_commands.context ->
+    Operation_hash.t list -> Store.Operation.t list Lwt.t
+
   val monitor:
     Client_commands.context ->
     ?contents:bool -> unit ->
     (Operation_hash.t * Store.Operation.t option) list list Lwt_stream.t Lwt.t
+
 end
 
 module Protocols : sig
-  val bytes:
+
+  val contents:
     Client_commands.context ->
     Protocol_hash.t -> Store.Protocol.t Lwt.t
 
@@ -159,6 +166,7 @@ module Protocols : sig
     Client_commands.context ->
     ?contents:bool -> unit ->
     (Protocol_hash.t * Store.Protocol.t option) list Lwt.t
+
 end
 
 val bootstrapped:
diff --git a/src/client/client_protocols.ml b/src/client/client_protocols.ml
index 27e7f8cbd..47fc152ad 100644
--- a/src/client/client_protocols.ml
+++ b/src/client/client_protocols.ml
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ let commands () =
        @@ param ~name:"protocol hash" ~desc:"" check_hash
        @@ stop)
       (fun ph cctxt ->
-         Client_node_rpcs.Protocols.bytes cctxt ph >>= fun proto ->
+         Client_node_rpcs.Protocols.contents cctxt ph >>= fun proto ->
          Updater.extract "" ph proto >>= fun () ->
          cctxt.message "Extracted protocol %a" Protocol_hash.pp_short ph) ;
          (* | Error err -> *)
diff --git a/src/client/embedded/alpha/baker/client_mining_operations.ml b/src/client/embedded/alpha/baker/client_mining_operations.ml
index 13e6969bd..d1715bbfe 100644
--- a/src/client/embedded/alpha/baker/client_mining_operations.ml
+++ b/src/client/embedded/alpha/baker/client_mining_operations.ml
@@ -22,19 +22,24 @@ let monitor cctxt ?contents ?check () =
   Client_node_rpcs.Operations.monitor cctxt ?contents () >>= fun ops_stream ->
   let convert ops =
     Lwt_list.filter_map_p
-      (fun (hash, bytes) ->
-         match bytes with
+      (fun (hash, op) ->
+         match op with
          | None -> Lwt.return (Some { hash; content = None })
-         | Some ({ Store.Operation.shell ; proto } : Updater.raw_operation) ->
-             Client_proto_rpcs.Helpers.Parse.operation cctxt
-               `Prevalidation ?check shell proto >>= function
-             | Ok proto -> Lwt.return (Some { hash ; content = Some (shell, proto) })
+         | Some op ->
+             Client_proto_rpcs.Helpers.Parse.operations cctxt
+               `Prevalidation ?check [op] >>= function
+             | Ok [proto] ->
+                 Lwt.return (Some { hash ; content = Some (op.shell, proto) })
+             | Ok _ ->
+                 lwt_log_error
+                   "@[<v 2>Error while parsing operations@[" >>= fun () ->
+                 Lwt.return None
              | Error err ->
                  lwt_log_error
                    "@[<v 2>Error while parsing operations@,%a@["
                    pp_print_error err >>= fun () ->
                  Lwt.return None)
-     (List.concat  ops)
+     (List.concat ops)
   in
   Lwt.return (Lwt_stream.map_s convert ops_stream)
 
diff --git a/src/client/embedded/alpha/client_proto_rpcs.ml b/src/client/embedded/alpha/client_proto_rpcs.ml
index fb8ebdad5..30d1e139f 100644
--- a/src/client/embedded/alpha/client_proto_rpcs.ml
+++ b/src/client/embedded/alpha/client_proto_rpcs.ml
@@ -259,10 +259,9 @@ module Helpers = struct
   end
 
   module Parse = struct
-    let operation cctxt block ?check shell proto =
+    let operations cctxt block ?check operations =
       call_error_service1 cctxt
-        Services.Helpers.Parse.operation block
-        (({ shell ; proto } : Updater.raw_operation), check)
+        Services.Helpers.Parse.operations block (operations, check)
     let block cctxt block shell proto =
       call_error_service1 cctxt
         Services.Helpers.Parse.block block
diff --git a/src/client/embedded/alpha/client_proto_rpcs.mli b/src/client/embedded/alpha/client_proto_rpcs.mli
index 82e3cd295..60eb2dbd5 100644
--- a/src/client/embedded/alpha/client_proto_rpcs.mli
+++ b/src/client/embedded/alpha/client_proto_rpcs.mli
@@ -318,10 +318,10 @@ module Helpers : sig
   end
 
   module Parse : sig
-    val operation:
+    val operations:
       Client_commands.context ->
-      block -> ?check:bool -> Updater.shell_operation -> MBytes.t ->
-      proto_operation tzresult Lwt.t
+      block -> ?check:bool -> Updater.raw_operation list ->
+      proto_operation list tzresult Lwt.t
     val block:
       Client_commands.context ->
       block -> Updater.shell_block -> MBytes.t ->
diff --git a/src/node/shell/node.ml b/src/node/shell/node.ml
index 7ee15175e..7aca4abf1 100644
--- a/src/node/shell/node.ml
+++ b/src/node/shell/node.ml
@@ -329,9 +329,8 @@ module RPC = struct
         | Some { operations } -> operations
 
   let operation_content node hash =
-    Distributed_db.read_operation node.distributed_db hash >>= function
-    | None -> Lwt.return_none
-    | Some (_, op) -> Lwt.return (Some op)
+    Distributed_db.read_operation node.distributed_db hash >>= fun op ->
+    Lwt.return (map_option ~f:snd op)
 
   let pending_operations node (block: block) =
     match block with
diff --git a/src/node/shell/node_rpc.ml b/src/node/shell/node_rpc.ml
index f94c39e41..9601b9179 100644
--- a/src/node/shell/node_rpc.ml
+++ b/src/node/shell/node_rpc.ml
@@ -305,16 +305,17 @@ let list_blocks
 let list_operations node {Services.Operations.monitor; contents} =
   let monitor = match monitor with None -> false | Some x -> x in
   let include_ops = match contents with None -> false | Some x -> x in
-  Node.RPC.operations node `Prevalidation >>= fun operations ->
-  Lwt_list.map_p
-    (Lwt_list.map_p
-       (fun hash ->
-          if include_ops then
-            Node.RPC.operation_content node hash >>= fun op ->
-            Lwt.return (hash, op)
-          else
-            Lwt.return (hash, None)))
-    operations >>= fun operations ->
+  Node.RPC.operations node `Prevalidation >>= fun operationss ->
+  let fetch_operations_content operations =
+    if include_ops then
+      Lwt_list.map_s
+        (fun h ->
+           Node.RPC.operation_content node h >>= fun content ->
+           Lwt.return (h, content))
+        operations
+    else
+      Lwt.return @@ ListLabels.map operations ~f:(fun h -> h, None) in
+  Lwt_list.map_p fetch_operations_content operationss >>= fun operations ->
   if not monitor then
     RPC.Answer.return operations
   else
@@ -333,10 +334,14 @@ let list_operations node {Services.Operations.monitor; contents} =
       end in
     RPC.Answer.return_stream { next ; shutdown }
 
-let get_operations node hash () =
-  Node.RPC.operation_content node hash >>= function
-  | Some bytes -> RPC.Answer.return bytes
-  | None -> raise Not_found
+let get_operations node hashes () =
+  Lwt_list.map_p
+    (fun h ->
+       Node.RPC.operation_content node h >>= function
+       | None -> Lwt.fail Not_found
+       | Some h -> Lwt.return h)
+    hashes >>= fun ops ->
+  RPC.Answer.return ops
 
 let list_protocols node {Services.Protocols.monitor; contents} =
   let monitor = match monitor with None -> false | Some x -> x in
@@ -393,11 +398,11 @@ let build_rpc_directory node =
   let dir =
     RPC.register0 dir Services.Operations.list (list_operations node) in
   let dir =
-    RPC.register1 dir Services.Operations.bytes (get_operations node) in
+    RPC.register1 dir Services.Operations.contents (get_operations node) in
   let dir =
     RPC.register0 dir Services.Protocols.list (list_protocols node) in
   let dir =
-    RPC.register1 dir Services.Protocols.bytes (get_protocols node) in
+    RPC.register1 dir Services.Protocols.contents (get_protocols node) in
   let dir =
     let implementation (net_id, pred, time, fitness, operations, header) =
       Node.RPC.block_info node (`Head 0) >>= fun bi ->
diff --git a/src/node/shell/node_rpc_services.ml b/src/node/shell/node_rpc_services.ml
index 7084de800..bacd533bd 100644
--- a/src/node/shell/node_rpc_services.ml
+++ b/src/node/shell/node_rpc_services.ml
@@ -408,16 +408,18 @@ module Operations = struct
     let name = "operation_id" in
     let descr =
       "A operation identifier in hexadecimal." in
-    let construct = Operation_hash.to_b58check in
+    let construct ops =
+      String.concat "," (List.map Operation_hash.to_b58check ops) in
     let destruct h =
-      try Ok (Operation_hash.of_b58check h)
+      let ops = split ',' h in
+      try Ok (List.map Operation_hash.of_b58check ops)
       with _ -> Error "Can't parse hash" in
     RPC.Arg.make ~name ~descr ~construct ~destruct ()
 
-  let bytes =
+  let contents =
     RPC.service
       ~input: empty
-      ~output: Updater.raw_operation_encoding
+      ~output: (list (dynamic_size Updater.raw_operation_encoding))
       RPC.Path.(root / "operations" /: operations_arg)
 
   type list_param = {
@@ -435,6 +437,8 @@ module Operations = struct
 
   let list =
     RPC.service
+      ~description:
+        "List operations in the mempool."
       ~input: list_param_encoding
       ~output:
         (obj1
@@ -451,6 +455,7 @@ module Operations = struct
 end
 
 module Protocols = struct
+
   let protocols_arg =
     let name = "protocol_id" in
     let descr =
@@ -461,7 +466,7 @@ module Protocols = struct
       with _ -> Error "Can't parse hash" in
     RPC.Arg.make ~name ~descr ~construct ~destruct ()
 
-  let bytes =
+  let contents =
     RPC.service
       ~input: empty
       ~output:
@@ -496,6 +501,7 @@ module Protocols = struct
                        (dynamic_size Store.Protocol.encoding)))
               )))
       RPC.Path.(root / "protocols")
+
 end
 
 module Network = struct
diff --git a/src/node/shell/node_rpc_services.mli b/src/node/shell/node_rpc_services.mli
index 2c399aba8..98988a26c 100644
--- a/src/node/shell/node_rpc_services.mli
+++ b/src/node/shell/node_rpc_services.mli
@@ -99,28 +99,39 @@ module Blocks : sig
 end
 
 module Operations : sig
-  val bytes:
-    (unit, unit * Operation_hash.t, unit, State.Operation.t) RPC.service
+
+  val contents:
+    (unit, unit * Operation_hash.t list,
+     unit, State.Operation.t list) RPC.service
+
+
   type list_param = {
     contents: bool option ;
     monitor: bool option ;
   }
+
   val list:
     (unit, unit,
-     list_param, (Operation_hash.t * Store.Operation.t option) list list) RPC.service
+     list_param,
+     (Operation_hash.t * Store.Operation.t option) list list) RPC.service
+
 end
 
 module Protocols : sig
-  val bytes:
+
+  val contents:
     (unit, unit * Protocol_hash.t, unit, Tezos_compiler.Protocol.t) RPC.service
+
   type list_param = {
     contents: bool option ;
     monitor: bool option ;
   }
+
   val list:
     (unit, unit,
      list_param,
      (Protocol_hash.t * Tezos_compiler.Protocol.t option) list) RPC.service
+
 end
 
 module Network : sig
diff --git a/src/proto/alpha/services.ml b/src/proto/alpha/services.ml
index f40724963..fe54fe277 100644
--- a/src/proto/alpha/services.ml
+++ b/src/proto/alpha/services.ml
@@ -574,15 +574,16 @@ module Helpers = struct
 
   module Parse = struct
 
-    let operation custom_root =
+    let operations custom_root =
       RPC.service
-        ~description:"Parse an operation"
+        ~description:"Parse operations"
         ~input:
-          (merge_objs
-             Updater.raw_operation_encoding
-             (obj1 (opt "check_signature" bool)))
-        ~output: (wrap_tzerror Operation.proto_operation_encoding)
-        RPC.Path.(custom_root / "helpers" / "parse" / "operation" )
+          (obj2
+             (req "operations" (list (dynamic_size Updater.raw_operation_encoding)))
+             (opt "check_signature" bool))
+        ~output:
+          (wrap_tzerror (list Operation.proto_operation_encoding))
+        RPC.Path.(custom_root / "helpers" / "parse" / "operations" )
 
     let block custom_root =
       RPC.service
diff --git a/src/proto/alpha/services_registration.ml b/src/proto/alpha/services_registration.ml
index cdadd59a3..b40f5f4b1 100644
--- a/src/proto/alpha/services_registration.ml
+++ b/src/proto/alpha/services_registration.ml
@@ -468,17 +468,18 @@ let check_signature ctxt signature shell contents =
      Operation.check_signature key
        { signature ; shell ; contents ; hash = dummy_hash }
 
-let parse_operation ctxt
-    (({ shell ; proto } : Updater.raw_operation), check) =
-  Operation.parse_proto proto >>=? fun (proto, signature) ->
-  begin
-    match check with
-    | Some true -> check_signature ctxt signature shell proto
-    | Some false | None -> return ()
-  end >>=? fun () ->
-  return proto
+let parse_operations ctxt (operations, check) =
+  map_s begin fun ({ shell ; proto } : Updater.raw_operation) ->
+    begin
+      Operation.parse_proto proto >>=? fun (proto, signature) ->
+      begin match check with
+      | Some true -> check_signature ctxt signature shell proto
+      | Some false | None -> return ()
+      end >>|? fun () -> proto
+    end
+  end operations
 
-let () = register1 Services.Helpers.Parse.operation parse_operation
+let () = register1 Services.Helpers.Parse.operations parse_operations
 
 let parse_block _ctxt raw_block =
   Lwt.return (Block.parse_header raw_block) >>=? fun { proto } ->