diff --git a/index.d.ts b/index.d.ts
index 260af80..2a4fb53 100644
--- a/index.d.ts
+++ b/index.d.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 
 declare namespace PIXI {
     export class SVG extends PIXI.Graphics {
-        constructor(svg:SVGSVGElement|SVGElement|string);
+        constructor(svg?:SVGSVGElement|SVGElement|string);
+        drawSVG(svg:SVGSVGElement|SVGElement|string): this;
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/SVG.js b/src/SVG.js
index 3024dc9..73b3bbc 100644
--- a/src/SVG.js
+++ b/src/SVG.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import color from 'tinycolor2';
  * @class SVG
  * @extends PIXI.Graphics
  * @memberof PIXI
- * @param {SVGSVGElement|SVGElement|string} svg - Inline SVGElement `<svg>` or buffer.
+ * @param {SVGSVGElement|SVGElement|string} [svg] - Inline SVGElement `<svg>` or buffer.
  */
 class SVG extends Graphics
 {
@@ -15,6 +15,20 @@ class SVG extends Graphics
     {
         super();
 
+        if (svg)
+        {
+            this.drawSVG(svg);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Draw an SVG element.
+     * @method PIXI.SVG#drawSVG
+     * @param {SVGSVGElement|SVGElement|string} svg - Inline SVGElement `<svg>` or buffer.
+     * @return {PIXI.SVG} Element suitable for chaining.
+     */
+    drawSVG(svg)
+    {
         if (typeof svg === 'string')
         {
             const div = document.createElement('div');
@@ -30,6 +44,8 @@ class SVG extends Graphics
 
         this._svgFill(svg);
         this._svgChildren(svg.children);
+
+        return this;
     }
 
     /**