diff --git a/convex-core/src/main/java/convex/core/cvm/State.java b/convex-core/src/main/java/convex/core/cvm/State.java
index 44a9ad3a8..66fe3f432 100644
--- a/convex-core/src/main/java/convex/core/cvm/State.java
+++ b/convex-core/src/main/java/convex/core/cvm/State.java
@@ -642,6 +642,10 @@ public State putAccount(Address address, AccountStatus accountStatus) {
 	 */
 	public AccountStatus getAccount(Address target) {
 		long ix=target.longValue();
+		return getAccount(ix);
+	}
+	
+	public AccountStatus getAccount(long ix) {
 		AVector<AccountStatus> accts=getAccounts();
 		if ((ix<0)||(ix>=accts.count())) return null;
 		return accts.get(ix);
@@ -725,11 +729,6 @@ public void validate() throws InvalidDataException {
 		super.validate();
 	}
 
-	@Override
-	public void validateCell() throws InvalidDataException {
-		// nothing to do?
-	}
-
 	/**
 	 * Gets the current global timestamp from this state.
 	 *
@@ -739,6 +738,11 @@ public CVMLong getTimestamp() {
 		return (CVMLong) getGlobals().get(GLOBAL_TIMESTAMP);
 	}
 
+	@Override
+	public void validateCell() throws InvalidDataException {
+		// nothing to do?
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Gets the current Juice price
 	 * 
@@ -960,4 +964,6 @@ protected State withValues(AVector<ACell> newValues) {
 
 
 
+
+
 }
diff --git a/convex-core/src/test/java/convex/core/init/InitTest.java b/convex-core/src/test/java/convex/core/init/InitTest.java
index 2805f74ea..206343b69 100644
--- a/convex-core/src/test/java/convex/core/init/InitTest.java
+++ b/convex-core/src/test/java/convex/core/init/InitTest.java
@@ -18,13 +18,17 @@
 import convex.core.cvm.PeerStatus;
 import convex.core.cvm.State;
 import convex.core.data.AccountKey;
+import convex.core.data.Blob;
+import convex.core.data.Format;
 import convex.core.data.Hash;
 import convex.core.data.MapEntry;
 import convex.core.data.Ref;
 import convex.core.data.Refs;
 import convex.core.data.prim.CVMLong;
+import convex.core.exceptions.BadFormatException;
 import convex.core.exceptions.InvalidDataException;
 import convex.core.lang.ACVMTest;
+import convex.core.lang.Core;
 
 /**
  * Tests for Init functionality
@@ -115,6 +119,16 @@ public void testMemoryExchange() {
 		assertEquals(Constants.INITIAL_MEMORY_POOL*Constants.INITIAL_MEMORY_PRICE,cvx.longValue());
 	}
 	
+	@Test
+	public void testInitEncoding() throws BadFormatException {
+		Blob b=Format.encodeMultiCell(STATE, true);
+		
+		State s=Format.decodeMultiCell(b);
+		assertEquals(STATE,s);
+		assertEquals(STATE.getAccount(Core.CORE_ADDRESS),s.getAccount(Core.CORE_ADDRESS));
+		assertEquals(STATE.getAccount(29),s.getAccount(29));
+	}
+	
 	@Test
 	public void testInitRef() {
 		State s=STATE;