diff --git a/bitcoin/tx.c b/bitcoin/tx.c
index c31d31333..3040e1dda 100644
--- a/bitcoin/tx.c
+++ b/bitcoin/tx.c
@@ -383,10 +383,9 @@ static void pull_witness(struct bitcoin_tx_input *inputs, size_t i,
 	}
 }
 
-struct bitcoin_tx *pull_bitcoin_tx(const tal_t *ctx,
-				   const u8 **cursor, size_t *max)
+struct bitcoin_tx *pull_bitcoin_tx_onto(const tal_t *ctx, const u8 **cursor,
+					size_t *max, struct bitcoin_tx *tx)
 {
-	struct bitcoin_tx *tx = tal(ctx, struct bitcoin_tx);
 	size_t i;
 	u64 count;
 	u8 flag = 0;
@@ -425,6 +424,13 @@ struct bitcoin_tx *pull_bitcoin_tx(const tal_t *ctx,
 	return tx;
 }
 
+struct bitcoin_tx *pull_bitcoin_tx(const tal_t *ctx,
+				   const u8 **cursor, size_t *max)
+{
+	struct bitcoin_tx *tx = tal(ctx, struct bitcoin_tx);
+	return pull_bitcoin_tx_onto(ctx, cursor, max, tx);
+}
+
 struct bitcoin_tx *bitcoin_tx_from_hex(const tal_t *ctx, const char *hex,
 				       size_t hexlen)
 {
diff --git a/bitcoin/tx.h b/bitcoin/tx.h
index 987c2e80e..1272a118d 100644
--- a/bitcoin/tx.h
+++ b/bitcoin/tx.h
@@ -71,4 +71,18 @@ bool bitcoin_txid_to_hex(const struct bitcoin_txid *txid,
 struct bitcoin_tx *pull_bitcoin_tx(const tal_t *ctx,
 				   const u8 **cursor, size_t *max);
 
+/**
+ * pull_bitcoin_tx_onto - De-serialize a bitcoin tx into tx
+ *
+ * Like pull_bitcoin_tx, but skips the allocation of tx. Used by the
+ * wire implementation where the caller allocates, and the callee only
+ * fills in values.
+ *
+ * @ctx: Allocation context
+ * @cursor: buffer to read from
+ * @max: Buffer size left to read
+ * @tx (out): Destination transaction
+ */
+struct bitcoin_tx *pull_bitcoin_tx_onto(const tal_t *ctx, const u8 **cursor,
+					size_t *max, struct bitcoin_tx *tx);
 #endif /* LIGHTNING_BITCOIN_TX_H */