diff --git a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/StringSizedReader.java b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/StringSizedReader.java
index 8284eae81..c6f3e0c65 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/StringSizedReader.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/openhft/chronicle/hash/serialization/impl/StringSizedReader.java
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ public class StringSizedReader implements SizedReader<String>, StatefulCopyable<
     private transient StringBuilder sb;
 
     public StringSizedReader() {
+        initTransients();
     }
 
     private void readObject(ObjectInputStream in) throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException {