diff --git a/include/osgDB/Serializer b/include/osgDB/Serializer
index 76490ecdf..351c41022 100644
--- a/include/osgDB/Serializer
+++ b/include/osgDB/Serializer
@@ -949,6 +949,7 @@ public:
         if ( is.isBinary() )
         {
             is >> size;
+            list.reserve(size);
             for ( unsigned int i=0; i<size; ++i )
             {
                 ValueType value;
@@ -960,6 +961,7 @@ public:
         else if ( is.matchString(_name) )
         {
             is >> size;
+            list.reserve(size);
             if ( size>0 ) is >> is.BEGIN_BRACKET;
             for ( unsigned int i=0; i<size; ++i )
             {
@@ -1104,6 +1106,7 @@ public:
         if ( is.isBinary() )
         {
             is >> size;
+            list.reserve(size);
             for ( unsigned int i=0; i<size; ++i )
             {
                 ValueType value;
@@ -1114,6 +1117,7 @@ public:
         else if ( is.matchString(_name) )
         {
             is >> size;
+            list.reserve(size);
             if ( size>0 ) is >> is.BEGIN_BRACKET;
             for ( unsigned int i=0; i<size; ++i )
             {