diff --git a/lib/dns/include/dns/rdataset.h b/lib/dns/include/dns/rdataset.h
index d240d2e019..566ea44cf9 100644
--- a/lib/dns/include/dns/rdataset.h
+++ b/lib/dns/include/dns/rdataset.h
@@ -146,6 +146,14 @@ struct dns_rdataset {
 	/*@}*/
 };
 
+#define DNS_RDATASET_COUNT_UNDEFINED UINT32_MAX
+
+#define DNS_RDATASET_INIT                                                  \
+	{                                                                  \
+		.magic = DNS_RDATASET_MAGIC, .link = ISC_LINK_INITIALIZER, \
+		.count = DNS_RDATASET_COUNT_UNDEFINED                      \
+	}
+
 /*!
  * \def DNS_RDATASETATTR_RENDERED
  *	Used by message.c to indicate that the rdataset was rendered.
diff --git a/lib/dns/rdataset.c b/lib/dns/rdataset.c
index 85f21fdb84..2367ecca64 100644
--- a/lib/dns/rdataset.c
+++ b/lib/dns/rdataset.c
@@ -46,8 +46,6 @@ dns_trust_totext(dns_trust_t trust) {
 	return (trustnames[trust]);
 }
 
-#define DNS_RDATASET_COUNT_UNDEFINED UINT32_MAX
-
 void
 dns_rdataset_init(dns_rdataset_t *rdataset) {
 	/*