diff --git a/core/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/core/transactions/LedgerTransaction.kt b/core/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/core/transactions/LedgerTransaction.kt
index 5997ce891f..773741dd53 100644
--- a/core/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/core/transactions/LedgerTransaction.kt
+++ b/core/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/core/transactions/LedgerTransaction.kt
@@ -61,19 +61,17 @@ data class LedgerTransaction @JvmOverloads constructor(
     }
 
     private companion object {
-        private fun createContractFor(className: ContractClassName, classLoader: ClassLoader?): Try<Contract> {
+        private fun contractClassFor(className: ContractClassName, classLoader: ClassLoader?): Try<Class<out Contract>> {
             return Try.on {
                 (classLoader ?: this::class.java.classLoader)
                         .loadClass(className)
                         .asSubclass(Contract::class.java)
-                        .getConstructor()
-                        .newInstance()
             }
         }
     }
 
-    private val contracts: Map<ContractClassName, Try<Contract>> = (inputs.map { it.state } + outputs)
-            .map { it.contract to createContractFor(it.contract, it.data::class.java.classLoader) }.toMap()
+    private val contracts: Map<ContractClassName, Try<Class<out Contract>>> = (inputs.map { it.state } + outputs)
+            .map { it.contract to contractClassFor(it.contract, it.data::class.java.classLoader) }.toMap()
 
     val inputStates: List<ContractState> get() = inputs.map { it.state.data }
 
@@ -135,11 +133,11 @@ data class LedgerTransaction @JvmOverloads constructor(
             when (result) {
                 is Try.Failure -> throw TransactionVerificationException.ContractCreationError(id, key, result.exception)
                 is Try.Success -> {
-                    val contract = result.value
                     try {
+                        val contract = result.value.newInstance()
                         contract.verify(this)
                     } catch (e: Throwable) {
-                        throw TransactionVerificationException.ContractRejection(id, contract, e)
+                        throw TransactionVerificationException.ContractRejection(id, result.value.name, e)
                     }
                 }
             }