diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/contracts/CommercialPaper.kt b/src/main/kotlin/contracts/CommercialPaper.kt
index b0addb8386..fa031a1d38 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/contracts/CommercialPaper.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/contracts/CommercialPaper.kt
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ class CommercialPaper : Contract {
      */
     fun craftIssue(issuance: PartyReference, faceValue: Amount, maturityDate: Instant): PartialTransaction {
         val state = State(issuance, issuance.party.owningKey, faceValue, maturityDate)
-        return PartialTransaction(state, WireCommand(Commands.Issue(), issuance.party.owningKey))
+        return PartialTransaction().withItems(state, WireCommand(Commands.Issue(), issuance.party.owningKey))
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/contracts/CrowdFund.kt b/src/main/kotlin/contracts/CrowdFund.kt
index 9c1548bb29..2d67dbb01b 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/contracts/CrowdFund.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/contracts/CrowdFund.kt
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ class CrowdFund : Contract {
     fun craftRegister(owner: PartyReference, fundingTarget: Amount, fundingName: String, closingTime: Instant): PartialTransaction {
         val campaign = Campaign(owner = owner.party.owningKey, name = fundingName, target = fundingTarget, closingTime = closingTime)
         val state = State(campaign)
-        return PartialTransaction(state, WireCommand(Commands.Register(), owner.party.owningKey))
+        return PartialTransaction().withItems(state, WireCommand(Commands.Register(), owner.party.owningKey))
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/core/Transactions.kt b/src/main/kotlin/core/Transactions.kt
index 4b5a60e0a1..57e1c3c887 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/core/Transactions.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/core/Transactions.kt
@@ -68,14 +68,8 @@ data class WireTransaction(val inputStates: List<ContractStateRef>,
 class PartialTransaction(private val inputStates: MutableList<ContractStateRef> = arrayListOf(),
                          private val outputStates: MutableList<ContractState> = arrayListOf(),
                          private val commands: MutableList<WireCommand> = arrayListOf()) {
-
-    /**  A more convenient way to add items to this transaction that calls the add* methods for you based on type */
-    constructor(vararg items: Any) : this() {
-        addItems(*items)
-    }
-
     /** A more convenient way to add items to this transaction that calls the add* methods for you based on type */
-    public fun addItems(vararg items: Any) {
+    public fun withItems(vararg items: Any): PartialTransaction {
         for (t in items) {
             when (t) {
                 is ContractStateRef -> inputStates.add(t)
@@ -84,6 +78,7 @@ class PartialTransaction(private val inputStates: MutableList<ContractStateRef>
                 else -> throw IllegalArgumentException("Wrong argument type: ${t.javaClass}")
             }
         }
+        return this
     }
 
     /** The signatures that have been collected so far - might be incomplete! */
diff --git a/src/test/kotlin/core/serialization/TransactionSerializationTests.kt b/src/test/kotlin/core/serialization/TransactionSerializationTests.kt
index 8c35df1d8b..e52c157cd0 100644
--- a/src/test/kotlin/core/serialization/TransactionSerializationTests.kt
+++ b/src/test/kotlin/core/serialization/TransactionSerializationTests.kt
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class TransactionSerializationTests {
 
     @Before
     fun setup() {
-        tx = PartialTransaction(
+        tx = PartialTransaction().withItems(
             fakeStateRef, outputState, changeState, WireCommand(Cash.Commands.Move(), arrayListOf(TestUtils.keypair.public))
         )
     }
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class TransactionSerializationTests {
 
         // If the signature was replaced in transit, we don't like it.
         assertFailsWith(SignatureException::class) {
-            val tx2 = PartialTransaction(fakeStateRef, outputState, changeState,
+            val tx2 = PartialTransaction().withItems(fakeStateRef, outputState, changeState,
                     WireCommand(Cash.Commands.Move(), arrayListOf(TestUtils.keypair2.public)))
             tx2.signWith(TestUtils.keypair2)