diff --git a/pkg/rpcclient/rolemgmt/roles.go b/pkg/rpcclient/rolemgmt/roles.go
index d153feb9c..c7593e4b5 100644
--- a/pkg/rpcclient/rolemgmt/roles.go
+++ b/pkg/rpcclient/rolemgmt/roles.go
@@ -7,9 +7,6 @@ various methods to perform the only RoleManagement state-changing call.
 package rolemgmt
 
 import (
-	"crypto/elliptic"
-	"fmt"
-
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core/native/nativenames"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core/native/noderoles"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core/state"
@@ -78,22 +75,7 @@ func New(actor Actor) *Contract {
 // given role at the given height. The list can be empty if no keys are
 // configured for this role/height.
 func (c *ContractReader) GetDesignatedByRole(role noderoles.Role, index uint32) (keys.PublicKeys, error) {
-	arr, err := unwrap.Array(c.invoker.Call(Hash, "getDesignatedByRole", int64(role), index))
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	pks := make(keys.PublicKeys, len(arr))
-	for i, item := range arr {
-		val, err := item.TryBytes()
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid array element #%d: %s", i, item.Type())
-		}
-		pks[i], err = keys.NewPublicKeyFromBytes(val, elliptic.P256())
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-	}
-	return pks, nil
+	return unwrap.ArrayOfPublicKeys(c.invoker.Call(Hash, "getDesignatedByRole", int64(role), index))
 }
 
 // DesignateAsRole creates and sends a transaction that sets the keys used for
diff --git a/pkg/rpcclient/unwrap/unwrap.go b/pkg/rpcclient/unwrap/unwrap.go
index 208b041c1..de82e6121 100644
--- a/pkg/rpcclient/unwrap/unwrap.go
+++ b/pkg/rpcclient/unwrap/unwrap.go
@@ -11,12 +11,14 @@ contract-specific packages.
 package unwrap
 
 import (
+	"crypto/elliptic"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"math/big"
 	"unicode/utf8"
 
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
+	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/crypto/keys"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/neorpc/result"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/util"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/vm/stackitem"
@@ -190,6 +192,27 @@ func ArrayOfBytes(r *result.Invoke, err error) ([][]byte, error) {
 	return res, nil
 }
 
+// ArrayOfPublicKeys checks the result for correct state (HALT) and then
+// extracts a slice of public keys from the returned stack item.
+func ArrayOfPublicKeys(r *result.Invoke, err error) (keys.PublicKeys, error) {
+	arr, err := Array(r, err)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	pks := make(keys.PublicKeys, len(arr))
+	for i, item := range arr {
+		val, err := item.TryBytes()
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid array element #%d: %s", i, item.Type())
+		}
+		pks[i], err = keys.NewPublicKeyFromBytes(val, elliptic.P256())
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("array element #%d in not a key: %w", i, err)
+		}
+	}
+	return pks, nil
+}
+
 // Map expects correct execution (HALT state) with a single stack item
 // returned. A stackitem.Map is extracted from this item and returned.
 func Map(r *result.Invoke, err error) (*stackitem.Map, error) {
diff --git a/pkg/rpcclient/unwrap/unwrap_test.go b/pkg/rpcclient/unwrap/unwrap_test.go
index e62383239..60fc60088 100644
--- a/pkg/rpcclient/unwrap/unwrap_test.go
+++ b/pkg/rpcclient/unwrap/unwrap_test.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
+	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/crypto/keys"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/neorpc/result"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/util"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/vm/stackitem"
@@ -52,6 +53,9 @@ func TestStdErrors(t *testing.T) {
 		func(r *result.Invoke, err error) (interface{}, error) {
 			return ArrayOfBytes(r, err)
 		},
+		func(r *result.Invoke, err error) (interface{}, error) {
+			return ArrayOfPublicKeys(r, err)
+		},
 		func(r *result.Invoke, err error) (interface{}, error) {
 			return Map(r, err)
 		},
@@ -224,6 +228,25 @@ func TestArrayOfBytes(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Equal(t, []byte("some"), a[0])
 }
 
+func TestArrayOfPublicKeys(t *testing.T) {
+	_, err := ArrayOfPublicKeys(&result.Invoke{State: "HALT", Stack: []stackitem.Item{stackitem.Make(42)}}, nil)
+	require.Error(t, err)
+
+	_, err = ArrayOfPublicKeys(&result.Invoke{State: "HALT", Stack: []stackitem.Item{stackitem.Make([]stackitem.Item{stackitem.Make([]stackitem.Item{})})}}, nil)
+	require.Error(t, err)
+
+	_, err = ArrayOfPublicKeys(&result.Invoke{State: "HALT", Stack: []stackitem.Item{stackitem.Make([]stackitem.Item{stackitem.Make([]byte("some"))})}}, nil)
+	require.Error(t, err)
+
+	k, err := keys.NewPrivateKey()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	pks, err := ArrayOfPublicKeys(&result.Invoke{State: "HALT", Stack: []stackitem.Item{stackitem.Make([]stackitem.Item{stackitem.Make(k.PublicKey().Bytes())})}}, nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, len(pks))
+	require.Equal(t, k.PublicKey(), pks[0])
+}
+
 func TestMap(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err := Map(&result.Invoke{State: "HALT", Stack: []stackitem.Item{stackitem.Make(42)}}, nil)
 	require.Error(t, err)