diff --git a/ui/layout/flex.go b/ui/layout/flex.go
index 6925ecb9..30141d5f 100644
--- a/ui/layout/flex.go
+++ b/ui/layout/flex.go
@@ -58,21 +58,19 @@ const (
 	Stretch
 )
 
-func (f *Flex) Init(ops *ui.Ops, cs Constraints) {
-	if f.constrained {
-		panic("Constrain must be called exactly once")
-	}
+func (f *Flex) Init(ops *ui.Ops, cs Constraints) *Flex {
 	f.ops = ops
-	f.constrained = true
 	f.cs = cs
+	f.constrained = true
 	f.taken = 0
 	f.maxCross = 0
 	f.maxBaseline = 0
+	return f
 }
 
 func (f *Flex) begin() {
 	if !f.constrained {
-		panic("must Constrain before adding a child")
+		panic("must Init before adding a child")
 	}
 	if f.begun {
 		panic("must End before adding a child")
diff --git a/ui/layout/stack.go b/ui/layout/stack.go
index 5085180f..02ffca39 100644
--- a/ui/layout/stack.go
+++ b/ui/layout/stack.go
@@ -37,17 +37,18 @@ const (
 	W
 )
 
-func (s *Stack) Init(ops *ui.Ops, cs Constraints) {
+func (s *Stack) Init(ops *ui.Ops, cs Constraints) *Stack {
 	s.ops = ops
 	s.cs = cs
 	s.constrained = true
 	s.maxSZ = image.Point{}
 	s.baseline = 0
+	return s
 }
 
 func (s *Stack) begin() {
 	if !s.constrained {
-		panic("must Constrain before adding a child")
+		panic("must Init before adding a child")
 	}
 	if s.begun {
 		panic("must End before adding a child")