diff --git a/openfermioncirq/primitives/swap_network.py b/openfermioncirq/primitives/swap_network.py
index 87b15633..4d1394a0 100644
--- a/openfermioncirq/primitives/swap_network.py
+++ b/openfermioncirq/primitives/swap_network.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 """The linear swap network."""
 
-from typing import Callable, Sequence
+from typing import Callable, Sequence, List
 
 import cirq
 
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@
 
 def swap_network(qubits: Sequence[cirq.QubitId],
                  operation: Callable[
-                     [int, int, cirq.QubitId, cirq.QubitId], cirq.OP_TREE]=
-                     lambda p, q, p_qubit, q_qubit: (),
+                     [int, int, cirq.QubitId, cirq.QubitId], cirq.OP_TREE
+                 ] = lambda p, q, p_qubit, q_qubit: (),
                  fermionic: bool=False,
-                 offset: bool=False) -> cirq.OP_TREE:
+                 offset: bool=False) -> List[cirq.Operation]:
     """Apply operations to pairs of qubits or modes using a swap network.
 
     This is used for applying operations between arbitrary pairs of qubits or
@@ -109,11 +109,11 @@ def swap_network(qubits: Sequence[cirq.QubitId],
     Args:
         qubits: The qubits sorted so that the j-th qubit in the Sequence
             represents the j-th qubit or fermionic mode.
-        operation: A call to this function takes the form
-            ``operation(p, q, p_qubit, q_qubit)``
-            where p and q are indices reprenting either qubits or fermionic
-            modes, and p_qubit and q_qubit are the qubits which represent them.
-            It returns the gate that should be applied to these qubits.
+        operation: Returns extra interactions to perform between qubits/modes as
+            they are swapped past each other. A call to this function takes the
+            form ``operation(p, q, p_qubit, q_qubit)`` where p and q are indices
+            representing either qubits or fermionic modes, and p_qubit and
+            q_qubit are the qubits which are currently storing those modes.
         fermionic: If True, use fermionic swaps under the JWT (that is, swap
             fermionic modes instead of qubits). If False, use normal qubit
             swaps.
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ def swap_network(qubits: Sequence[cirq.QubitId],
     n_qubits = len(qubits)
     order = list(range(n_qubits))
     swap_gate = FSWAP if fermionic else cirq.SWAP
+    result = []
 
     for layer_num in range(n_qubits):
         lowest_active_qubit = (layer_num + offset) % 2
@@ -130,6 +131,9 @@ def swap_network(qubits: Sequence[cirq.QubitId],
                         for i in range(lowest_active_qubit, n_qubits - 1, 2))
         for i, j in active_pairs:
             p, q = order[i], order[j]
-            yield operation(p, q, qubits[i], qubits[j])
-            yield swap_gate(qubits[i], qubits[j])
+            extra_ops = operation(p, q, qubits[i], qubits[j])
+            result.extend(cirq.flatten_op_tree(extra_ops))
+            result.append(swap_gate(qubits[i], qubits[j]))
             order[i], order[j] = q, p
+
+    return result
diff --git a/openfermioncirq/primitives/swap_network_test.py b/openfermioncirq/primitives/swap_network_test.py
index 7ba2b32f..74b4db39 100644
--- a/openfermioncirq/primitives/swap_network_test.py
+++ b/openfermioncirq/primitives/swap_network_test.py
@@ -94,3 +94,8 @@ def test_swap_network():
 │ ×─× ×─×
 │ │ │ │ │
 """.strip()
+
+
+def test_reusable():
+    ops = swap_network(cirq.LineQubit.range(5))
+    assert list(ops) == list(ops)