diff --git a/src/libinput-private.h b/src/libinput-private.h
index 07bed365..205dbf89 100644
--- a/src/libinput-private.h
+++ b/src/libinput-private.h
@@ -466,6 +466,9 @@ void
 libinput_device_set_device_group(struct libinput_device *device,
 				 struct libinput_device_group *group);
 
+void
+libinput_device_init_event_listener(struct libinput_event_listener *listener);
+
 void
 libinput_device_add_event_listener(struct libinput_device *device,
 				   struct libinput_event_listener *listener,
diff --git a/src/libinput.c b/src/libinput.c
index 49971530..ebfedece 100644
--- a/src/libinput.c
+++ b/src/libinput.c
@@ -1944,6 +1944,12 @@ libinput_dispatch(struct libinput *libinput)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+void
+libinput_device_init_event_listener(struct libinput_event_listener *listener)
+{
+	list_init(&listener->link);
+}
+
 void
 libinput_device_add_event_listener(struct libinput_device *device,
 				   struct libinput_event_listener *listener,