diff --git a/HARK/ConsumptionSaving/tests/test_PerfForesightConsumerType.py b/HARK/ConsumptionSaving/tests/test_PerfForesightConsumerType.py
index a7105b1f6..9f5a7b8fe 100644
--- a/HARK/ConsumptionSaving/tests/test_PerfForesightConsumerType.py
+++ b/HARK/ConsumptionSaving/tests/test_PerfForesightConsumerType.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def test_simulation(self):
             "T_age": None,  # Age after which simulated agents are automatically killed
         }
 
-        self.agent_infinite(
+        self.agent_infinite.assignParameters(
             **SimulationParams
         )  # This implicitly uses the assignParameters method of AgentType
 
diff --git a/HARK/core.py b/HARK/core.py
index 3fe5a04f3..ad3bb1897 100644
--- a/HARK/core.py
+++ b/HARK/core.py
@@ -169,16 +169,25 @@ def assignParameters(self, **kwds):
         -------
         none
         """
-        self.parameters = kwds
+        self.parameters.update(kwds)
         for key in kwds:
             setattr(self, key, kwds[key])
 
-    def __call__(self, **kwds):
+    def get_parameter(self, name):
         """
-        Assign an arbitrary number of attributes to this agent, as a convenience.
-        See assignParameters.
+        Returns a parameter of this model
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        name : string
+            The name of the parameter to get
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        value :
+            The value of the parameter
         """
-        self.assignParameters(**kwds)
+        return self.parameters[name]
 
     def __eq__(self, other):
         if isinstance(other, type(self)):
@@ -186,6 +195,10 @@ def __eq__(self, other):
 
         return notImplemented
 
+    def __init__(self):
+        if not hasattr(self, 'parameters'):
+            self.parameters = {}
+
     def __str__(self):
 
         type_ = type(self)
@@ -261,6 +274,8 @@ def __init__(
         seed=0,
         **kwds
     ):
+        super().__init__()
+
         if solution_terminal is None:
             solution_terminal = NullFunc()
 
@@ -1116,6 +1131,7 @@ def __init__(
         tolerance=0.000001,
         **kwds
     ):
+        super().__init__()
         self.agents = agents if agents is not None else list()  # NOQA
 
         reap_vars = reap_vars if reap_vars is not None else list()  # NOQA