diff --git a/include/villas/list.h b/include/villas/list.h
index 3be253561..f6ba29dae 100644
--- a/include/villas/list.h
+++ b/include/villas/list.h
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ struct list {
  *
  * @param l A pointer to the list data structure.
  */
-void list_init(struct list *l);
+int list_init(struct list *l);
 
 /** Destroy a list and call destructors for all list elements
  *
diff --git a/lib/list.c b/lib/list.c
index 1fa4e03e3..32cac84a4 100644
--- a/lib/list.c
+++ b/lib/list.c
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ static int cmp_sort(const void *a, const void *b, void *thunk) {
 	return cmp(*(void **) a, *(void **) b);
 }
 
-void list_init(struct list *l)
+int list_init(struct list *l)
 {
 	assert(l->state == STATE_DESTROYED);
 
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ void list_init(struct list *l)
 	l->array = NULL;
 
 	l->state = STATE_INITIALIZED;
+	
+	return 0;
 }
 
 int list_destroy(struct list *l, dtor_cb_t destructor, bool release)