diff --git a/src/utils/list.h b/src/utils/list.h
index 688113095..ee2f48569 100644
--- a/src/utils/list.h
+++ b/src/utils/list.h
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ struct dl_list {
 	struct dl_list *prev;
 };
 
+#define DL_LIST_HEAD_INIT(l) { &(l), &(l) }
+
 static inline void dl_list_init(struct dl_list *list)
 {
 	list->next = list;
diff --git a/src/utils/os_unix.c b/src/utils/os_unix.c
index 86fbd0aed..e0c1125d5 100644
--- a/src/utils/os_unix.c
+++ b/src/utils/os_unix.c
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 #include "trace.h"
 #include "list.h"
 
-static struct dl_list alloc_list;
+static struct dl_list alloc_list = DL_LIST_HEAD_INIT(alloc_list);
 
 #define ALLOC_MAGIC 0xa84ef1b2
 #define FREED_MAGIC 0x67fd487a
@@ -321,9 +321,6 @@ int os_program_init(void)
 	capset(&header, &cap);
 #endif /* ANDROID */
 
-#ifdef WPA_TRACE
-	dl_list_init(&alloc_list);
-#endif /* WPA_TRACE */
 	return 0;
 }