diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/dobj/CompoundEvent.java b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/dobj/CompoundEvent.java
index 85ead2fac..16230ccbe 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/dobj/CompoundEvent.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/dobj/CompoundEvent.java
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ public class CompoundEvent extends DEvent
 
         _omgr = omgr;
         _target = target;
-        _events = new StreamableArrayList<DEvent>();
+        _events = StreamableArrayList.newList();
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/util/StreamableArrayList.java b/src/java/com/threerings/util/StreamableArrayList.java
index 4e5051b14..69dd9175c 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/util/StreamableArrayList.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/util/StreamableArrayList.java
@@ -39,6 +39,14 @@ import com.threerings.io.Streamable;
 public class StreamableArrayList<E> extends ArrayList<E>
     implements Streamable
 {
+    /**
+     * Creates an empty StreamableArrayList.
+     */
+    public static <E> StreamableArrayList<E> newList ()
+    {
+        return new StreamableArrayList<E>();
+    }
+
     /**
      * Writes our custom streamable fields.
      */
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/util/StreamableHashSet.java b/src/java/com/threerings/util/StreamableHashSet.java
index b77958cc6..96811630e 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/util/StreamableHashSet.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/util/StreamableHashSet.java
@@ -40,8 +40,15 @@ public class StreamableHashSet<E> extends HashSet<E>
     implements Streamable
 {
     /**
-     * Constructs an empty hash set with the specified number of hash
-     * buckets.
+     * Creates an empty StreamableHashSet with the default number of hash buckets.
+     */
+    public static <E> StreamableHashSet<E> newSet ()
+    {
+        return new StreamableHashSet<E>();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Constructs an empty hash set with the specified number of hash buckets.
      */
     public StreamableHashSet (int buckets, float loadFactor)
     {