diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/service/MapEvent.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/service/MapEvent.java
index 818e749..2e8aa61 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/service/MapEvent.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/service/MapEvent.java
@@ -62,12 +62,25 @@
      * @param previousValue value that was replaced
      */
     public MapEvent(String name, K key, Versioned<V> currentValue, Versioned<V> previousValue) {
+        this(currentValue != null ? previousValue != null ? Type.UPDATE : Type.INSERT : Type.REMOVE,
+                name, key, currentValue, previousValue);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a new event object.
+     *
+     * @param type event type
+     * @param name map name
+     * @param key key the event concerns
+     * @param currentValue new value key is mapped to
+     * @param previousValue value that was replaced
+     */
+    public MapEvent(Type type, String name, K key, Versioned<V> currentValue, Versioned<V> previousValue) {
+        this.type = type;
         this.name = name;
         this.key = key;
         this.newValue = currentValue;
         this.oldValue = previousValue;
-        this.type = currentValue != null ?
-                    previousValue != null ? Type.UPDATE : Type.INSERT : Type.REMOVE;
     }
 
     /**