diff --git a/common/src/comp/controller.rs b/common/src/comp/controller.rs
index 542b66f9f5..59425332d7 100644
--- a/common/src/comp/controller.rs
+++ b/common/src/comp/controller.rs
@@ -288,6 +288,10 @@ impl Controller {
         self.push_event(ControlEvent::InviteResponse(invite_response));
     }
 
+    pub fn push_initiate_invite(&mut self, uid: Uid, invite: InviteKind) {
+        self.push_event(ControlEvent::InitiateInvite(uid, invite));
+    }
+
     pub fn push_action(&mut self, action: ControlAction) { self.actions.push(action); }
 
     pub fn push_basic_input(&mut self, input: InputKind) {
diff --git a/server/src/sys/agent.rs b/server/src/sys/agent.rs
index 787e41faa7..7db3f71df8 100644
--- a/server/src/sys/agent.rs
+++ b/server/src/sys/agent.rs
@@ -1015,10 +1015,7 @@ impl<'a> AgentData<'a> {
                                         self.chat_npc(msg, event_emitter);
                                     } else if agent.behavior.can_trade() {
                                         if !agent.behavior.is(BehaviorState::TRADING) {
-                                            controller.push_event(ControlEvent::InitiateInvite(
-                                                by,
-                                                InviteKind::Trade,
-                                            ));
+                                            controller.push_initiate_invite(by, InviteKind::Trade);
                                             self.chat_npc(
                                                 "npc.speech.merchant_advertisement",
                                                 event_emitter,
@@ -1036,10 +1033,7 @@ impl<'a> AgentData<'a> {
                                 Subject::Trade => {
                                     if agent.behavior.can_trade() {
                                         if !agent.behavior.is(BehaviorState::TRADING) {
-                                            controller.push_event(ControlEvent::InitiateInvite(
-                                                by,
-                                                InviteKind::Trade,
-                                            ));
+                                            controller.push_initiate_invite(by, InviteKind::Trade);
                                             self.chat_npc(
                                                 "npc.speech.merchant_advertisement",
                                                 event_emitter,