diff --git a/dexlib/src/main/java/org/jf/dexlib/ClassDefItem.java b/dexlib/src/main/java/org/jf/dexlib/ClassDefItem.java
index 7729715a..8d6eb0c6 100644
--- a/dexlib/src/main/java/org/jf/dexlib/ClassDefItem.java
+++ b/dexlib/src/main/java/org/jf/dexlib/ClassDefItem.java
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ public class ClassDefItem extends Item<ClassDefItem> {
         }
 
         private void placeClass(ClassDefItem classDefItem) {
-            if (classDefItem.getOffset() == -1) {
+            if (!classDefItem.isPlaced()) {
                 TypeIdItem superType = classDefItem.superType;
                 ClassDefItem superClassDefItem = unplacedClassDefsByType.get(superType);
 
diff --git a/dexlib/src/main/java/org/jf/dexlib/Item.java b/dexlib/src/main/java/org/jf/dexlib/Item.java
index 9a2ec5fd..98c23389 100644
--- a/dexlib/src/main/java/org/jf/dexlib/Item.java
+++ b/dexlib/src/main/java/org/jf/dexlib/Item.java
@@ -189,6 +189,7 @@ public abstract class Item<T extends Item> implements Comparable<T> {
 
 
     /**
+     * Note that the item must have been placed before calling this method (See <code>DexFile.place()</code>)
      * @return the offset in the dex file where this item is located
      */
     public int getOffset() {
@@ -198,7 +199,8 @@ public abstract class Item<T extends Item> implements Comparable<T> {
     }
 
     /**
-     * @return the index of this item within the item's containing section
+     * Note that the item must have been placed before calling this method (See <code>DexFile.place()</code>)
+     * @return the index of this item within the item's containing section.
      */
     public int getIndex() {
         Preconditions.checkState(index != -1,
@@ -206,6 +208,13 @@ public abstract class Item<T extends Item> implements Comparable<T> {
         return index;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @return True if this item has been placed, otherwise False
+     */
+    public boolean isPlaced() {
+        return offset != -1;
+    }
+
     /**
      * @return the <code>DexFile</code> that contains this item
      */