diff --git a/briar-android/res/values/strings.xml b/briar-android/res/values/strings.xml
index 95bde2570..99292210f 100644
--- a/briar-android/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/briar-android/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -157,13 +157,13 @@
 	<string name="introduction_request_sent">You have asked to introduce %1$s to %2$s.</string>
 	<string name="introduction_request_received">%1$s has asked to introduce you to %2$s. Do you want to add %2$s to your contact list?</string>
 	<string name="introduction_request_exists_received">%1$s has asked to introduce you to %2$s, but %2$s is already in your contact list. Since %1$s might not know that, you can still respond:</string>
-	<string name="introduction_request_for_our_identity_received">%1$s has asked to introduce you to %2$s, but %2$s is one of your other identities. For that reason you cannot accept the introduction:</string>
+	<string name="introduction_request_for_our_identity_received">%1$s has asked to introduce you to %2$s, but %2$s is one of your other identities, so you cannot accept the introduction:</string>
 	<string name="introduction_request_answered_received">%1$s has asked to introduce you to %2$s.</string>
 	<string name="introduction_response_accepted_sent">You accepted the introduction to %1$s.</string>
 	<string name="introduction_response_declined_sent">You declined the introduction to %1$s.</string>
-	<string name="introduction_response_accepted_received">%1$s accepted to be introduced to %2$s.</string>
-	<string name="introduction_response_declined_received">%1$s declined to be introduced to %2$s.</string>
-	<string name="introduction_response_declined_received_by_introducee">%1$s has informed us that %2$s has declined the introduction.</string>
+	<string name="introduction_response_accepted_received">%1$s accepted the introduction to %2$s.</string>
+	<string name="introduction_response_declined_received">%1$s declined the introduction to %2$s.</string>
+	<string name="introduction_response_declined_received_by_introducee">%1$s says that %2$s declined the introduction.</string>
 	<string name="introduction_success_title">Introduced contact was added</string>
 	<string name="introduction_success_text">You have been introduced to %1$s.</string>
 
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/introduction/IntroduceeEngine.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/introduction/IntroduceeEngine.java
index cb1ee7e02..3f29b00b0 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/introduction/IntroduceeEngine.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/introduction/IntroduceeEngine.java
@@ -26,8 +26,6 @@ import static org.briarproject.api.introduction.IntroduceeAction.LOCAL_ABORT;
 import static org.briarproject.api.introduction.IntroduceeAction.LOCAL_ACCEPT;
 import static org.briarproject.api.introduction.IntroduceeAction.LOCAL_DECLINE;
 import static org.briarproject.api.introduction.IntroduceeAction.REMOTE_ABORT;
-import static org.briarproject.api.introduction.IntroduceeAction.REMOTE_ACCEPT;
-import static org.briarproject.api.introduction.IntroduceeAction.REMOTE_DECLINE;
 import static org.briarproject.api.introduction.IntroduceeProtocolState.AWAIT_ACK;
 import static org.briarproject.api.introduction.IntroduceeProtocolState.AWAIT_REMOTE_RESPONSE;
 import static org.briarproject.api.introduction.IntroduceeProtocolState.AWAIT_REQUEST;
@@ -199,8 +197,9 @@ public class IntroduceeEngine
 			// we are done (probably declined response), ignore & delete message
 			else if (currentState == FINISHED) {
 				return new StateUpdate<BdfDictionary, BdfDictionary>(true,
-						false, localState, new ArrayList<BdfDictionary>(0),
-						new ArrayList<Event>(0));
+						false, localState,
+						Collections.<BdfDictionary>emptyList(),
+						Collections.<Event>emptyList());
 			}
 			// this should not happen
 			else {
@@ -377,8 +376,7 @@ public class IntroduceeEngine
 			BdfDictionary localState) throws FormatException {
 
 		return new StateUpdate<BdfDictionary, BdfDictionary>(false, false,
-				localState, new ArrayList<BdfDictionary>(0),
-				new ArrayList<Event>(0));
+				localState, Collections.<BdfDictionary>emptyList(),
+				Collections.<Event>emptyList());
 	}
-
 }
diff --git a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/introduction/IntroducerEngine.java b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/introduction/IntroducerEngine.java
index 6af05d14b..e0e1449f6 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/introduction/IntroducerEngine.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/org/briarproject/introduction/IntroducerEngine.java
@@ -388,8 +388,7 @@ public class IntroducerEngine
 			BdfDictionary localState) throws FormatException {
 
 		return new StateUpdate<BdfDictionary, BdfDictionary>(false, false,
-				localState, new ArrayList<BdfDictionary>(0),
-				new ArrayList<Event>(0));
+				localState, Collections.<BdfDictionary>emptyList(),
+				Collections.<Event>emptyList());
 	}
-
 }