diff --git a/src/util-list.c b/src/util-list.c
index 45fed457..900172d2 100644
--- a/src/util-list.c
+++ b/src/util-list.c
@@ -34,8 +34,7 @@
 void
 list_init(struct list *list)
 {
-	list->prev = list;
-	list->next = list;
+	*list = LIST_INIT(*list);
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/src/util-list.h b/src/util-list.h
index a9f0c87b..bc710a9c 100644
--- a/src/util-list.h
+++ b/src/util-list.h
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ struct list {
 	struct list *next;
 };
 
+#define LIST_INIT(l) (struct list){ .prev = &(l), .next = &(l) }
+
 /**
  * Initialize a list head. This function *must* be called once for each list
  * head. This function *must not* be called for a node to be added to a