diff --git a/src/block.rs b/src/block.rs
index 21cab270..2e2ada8c 100644
--- a/src/block.rs
+++ b/src/block.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 use block_header::BlockHeader;
-use compact_integer::CompactInteger;
 use crypto::dhash256;
 use hash::H256;
 use merkle_root::merkle_root;
@@ -16,7 +15,6 @@ impl Serializable for Block {
 	fn serialize(&self, stream: &mut Stream) {
 		stream
 			.append(&self.block_header)
-			.append(&CompactInteger::from(self.transactions.len()))
 			.append_list(&self.transactions);
 	}
 }
@@ -24,8 +22,7 @@ impl Serializable for Block {
 impl Deserializable for Block {
 	fn deserialize(reader: &mut Reader) -> Result<Self, ReaderError> where Self: Sized {
 		let block_header = try!(reader.read());
-		let tx_len = try!(reader.read::<CompactInteger>());
-		let transactions = try!(reader.read_list(tx_len.into()));
+		let transactions = try!(reader.read_list());
 
 		let result = Block {
 			block_header: block_header,
diff --git a/src/reader.rs b/src/reader.rs
index 737d907f..687d6f79 100644
--- a/src/reader.rs
+++ b/src/reader.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use std::{io, cmp};
 use byteorder::{LittleEndian, ReadBytesExt};
+use compact_integer::CompactInteger;
 
 pub fn deserialize<T>(buffer: &[u8]) -> Result<T, Error> where T: Deserializable {
 	let mut reader = Reader::new(buffer);
@@ -65,7 +66,8 @@ impl<'a> Reader<'a> {
 		Ok(result)
 	}
 
-	pub fn read_list<T>(&mut self, len: usize) -> Result<Vec<T>, Error> where T: Deserializable {
+	pub fn read_list<T>(&mut self) -> Result<Vec<T>, Error> where T: Deserializable {
+		let len: usize = try!(self.read::<CompactInteger>()).into();
 		let mut result = vec![];
 
 		for _ in 0..len {
diff --git a/src/stream.rs b/src/stream.rs
index 4a5b6b80..83407ba4 100644
--- a/src/stream.rs
+++ b/src/stream.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 //! Stream used for serialization.
 use std::io::{self, Write};
 use byteorder::{LittleEndian, WriteBytesExt};
+use compact_integer::CompactInteger;
 
 pub fn serialize(t: &Serializable) -> Vec<u8> {
 	let mut stream = Stream::default();
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ impl Stream {
 
 	/// Appends a list of serializable structs to the end of the stream.
 	pub fn append_list<T>(&mut self, t: &[T]) -> &mut Self where T: Serializable {
+		CompactInteger::from(t.len()).serialize(self);
 		for i in t {
 			i.serialize(self);
 		}
diff --git a/src/transaction.rs b/src/transaction.rs
index 5e5ce50c..60fb25d4 100644
--- a/src/transaction.rs
+++ b/src/transaction.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ use reader::{Deserializable, Reader, Error as ReaderError, deserialize};
 use crypto::dhash256;
 use hash::H256;
 use stream::{Serializable, Stream, serialize};
-use compact_integer::CompactInteger;
 
 // Below flags apply in the context of BIP 68
 // If this flag set, CTxIn::nSequence is NOT interpreted as a
@@ -172,9 +171,7 @@ impl Serializable for Transaction {
 	fn serialize(&self, stream: &mut Stream) {
 		stream
 			.append(&self.version)
-			.append(&CompactInteger::from(self.inputs.len()))
 			.append_list(&self.inputs)
-			.append(&CompactInteger::from(self.outputs.len()))
 			.append_list(&self.outputs)
 			.append(&self.lock_time);
 	}
@@ -183,10 +180,8 @@ impl Serializable for Transaction {
 impl Deserializable for Transaction {
 	fn deserialize(reader: &mut Reader) -> Result<Self, ReaderError> where Self: Sized {
 		let version = try!(reader.read());
-		let tx_inputs_len= try!(reader.read::<CompactInteger>());
-		let tx_inputs = try!(reader.read_list(tx_inputs_len.into()));
-		let tx_outputs_len= try!(reader.read::<CompactInteger>());
-		let tx_outputs = try!(reader.read_list(tx_outputs_len.into()));
+		let tx_inputs = try!(reader.read_list());
+		let tx_outputs = try!(reader.read_list());
 		let lock_time = try!(reader.read());
 
 		let result = Transaction {