diff --git a/src/main/java/com/xtremelabs/robolectric/shadows/ShadowIntent.java b/src/main/java/com/xtremelabs/robolectric/shadows/ShadowIntent.java
index 1128960..9f24e74 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/xtremelabs/robolectric/shadows/ShadowIntent.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/xtremelabs/robolectric/shadows/ShadowIntent.java
@@ -608,16 +608,16 @@
 
     @Implementation
     public void writeToParcel(Parcel out, int flags) {
-      writeStringToParcel(action, out);
+      out.writeString(action);
       if (data != null) {
         out.writeInt(1);
         Uri.writeToParcel(out, data);
       } else {
         out.writeInt(0);
       }
-      writeStringToParcel(type, out);
+      out.writeString(type);
       out.writeInt(flags);
-      writeStringToParcel(packageName, out);
+      out.writeString(packageName);
       ComponentName.writeToParcel(componentName, out);
       out.writeInt(categories.size());
       for (String category : categories) {
@@ -628,13 +628,13 @@
 
     @Implementation
     public void readFromParcel(Parcel in) {
-      setAction(readStringFromParcel(in));
+      setAction(in.readString());
       if (in.readInt() != 0) {
         data = Uri.CREATOR.createFromParcel(in);
       }
-      type = readStringFromParcel(in);
+      type = in.readString();
       flags = in.readInt();
-      packageName = readStringFromParcel(in);
+      packageName = in.readString();
       componentName = ComponentName.readFromParcel(in);
       int N = in.readInt();
       for (int i = 0; i < N; i++) {
@@ -643,22 +643,6 @@
       extras.putAll(in.readBundle());
     }
 
-    private void writeStringToParcel(String s, Parcel out) {
-      if (s != null) {
-        out.writeInt(1);
-        out.writeString(s);
-      } else {
-        out.writeInt(0);
-      }
-    }
-
-    private String readStringFromParcel(Parcel in) {
-      if (in.readInt() != 0) {
-        return in.readString();
-      }
-      return null;
-    }
-
     private Serializable serializeCycle(Serializable serializable) {
         try {
             ByteArrayOutputStream byteArrayOutputStream = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/xtremelabs/robolectric/shadows/ShadowParcel.java b/src/main/java/com/xtremelabs/robolectric/shadows/ShadowParcel.java
index d41a681..75c864a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/xtremelabs/robolectric/shadows/ShadowParcel.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/xtremelabs/robolectric/shadows/ShadowParcel.java
@@ -27,9 +27,6 @@
 
     @Implementation
     public void writeString(String str) {
-        if (str == null) {
-            return;
-        }
         parcelData.add(str);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/xtremelabs/robolectric/shadows/ParcelTest.java b/src/test/java/com/xtremelabs/robolectric/shadows/ParcelTest.java
index d2e5a1a..8072eb7 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/xtremelabs/robolectric/shadows/ParcelTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/xtremelabs/robolectric/shadows/ParcelTest.java
@@ -65,13 +65,13 @@
         assertThat(parcel.readString(), equalTo(val));
     }
 
-    @Test
-    public void testWriteNullString() {
-        parcel.writeString(null);
-        assertThat(parcel.readString(), nullValue());
-        assertThat(shadowParcel.getIndex(), equalTo(0));
-        assertThat(shadowParcel.getParcelData().size(), equalTo(0));
-    }
+	@Test
+	public void testWriteNullString() {
+		parcel.writeString( null );
+		assertThat( parcel.readString(), nullValue() );
+		assertThat( shadowParcel.getIndex(), equalTo( 1 ) );
+		assertThat( shadowParcel.getParcelData().size(), equalTo( 1 ) );
+	}
 
     @Test
     public void testReadWriteMultipleStrings() {