diff --git a/daemon/call_interfaces.c b/daemon/call_interfaces.c
index 808c2a04f..57e3188a7 100644
--- a/daemon/call_interfaces.c
+++ b/daemon/call_interfaces.c
@@ -171,13 +171,12 @@ static str *call_update_lookup_udp(char **out, enum call_opmode opmode, const ch
 	struct call_subscription *dialogue[2];
 	GQueue q = G_QUEUE_INIT;
 	struct stream_params sp;
-	str *ret, callid, viabranch, fromtag, totag = STR_NULL;
+	str *ret;
 	int i;
 
-	str_init(&callid, out[RE_UDP_UL_CALLID]);
-	str_init(&viabranch, out[RE_UDP_UL_VIABRANCH]);
-	str_init(&fromtag, out[RE_UDP_UL_FROMTAG]);
-	str_init(&totag, out[RE_UDP_UL_TOTAG]);
+	str callid = STR_INIT(out[RE_UDP_UL_CALLID]);
+	str fromtag = STR_INIT(out[RE_UDP_UL_FROMTAG]);
+	str totag = STR_INIT(out[RE_UDP_UL_TOTAG]);
 	if (opmode == OP_ANSWER)
 		str_swap(&fromtag, &totag);
 
@@ -320,10 +319,10 @@ static str *call_request_lookup_tcp(char **out, enum call_opmode opmode) {
 	struct call *c;
 	struct call_subscription *dialogue[2];
 	AUTO_CLEANUP(GQueue s, sdp_streams_free) = G_QUEUE_INIT;
-	str *ret = NULL, callid, fromtag, totag = STR_NULL;
+	str *ret = NULL;
 	GHashTable *infohash;
 
-	str_init(&callid, out[RE_TCP_RL_CALLID]);
+	str callid = STR_INIT(out[RE_TCP_RL_CALLID]);
 	infohash = g_hash_table_new_full(g_str_hash, g_str_equal, free, free);
 	c = call_get_opmode(&callid, opmode);
 	if (!c) {
@@ -333,12 +332,12 @@ static str *call_request_lookup_tcp(char **out, enum call_opmode opmode) {
 
 	info_parse(out[RE_TCP_RL_INFO], infohash);
 	streams_parse(out[RE_TCP_RL_STREAMS], &s);
-	str_init(&fromtag, g_hash_table_lookup(infohash, "fromtag"));
+	str fromtag = STR_INIT(g_hash_table_lookup(infohash, "fromtag"));
 	if (!fromtag.s) {
 		ilog(LOG_WARNING, "No from-tag in message");
 		goto out2;
 	}
-	str_init(&totag, g_hash_table_lookup(infohash, "totag"));
+	str totag = STR_INIT(g_hash_table_lookup(infohash, "totag"));
 	if (opmode == OP_ANSWER) {
 		if (!totag.s) {
 			ilog(LOG_WARNING, "No to-tag in message");
@@ -373,15 +372,13 @@ str *call_lookup_tcp(char **out) {
 }
 
 str *call_delete_udp(char **out) {
-	str callid, branch, fromtag, totag;
-
 	__C_DBG("got delete for callid '%s' and viabranch '%s'",
 		out[RE_UDP_DQ_CALLID], out[RE_UDP_DQ_VIABRANCH]);
 
-	str_init(&callid, out[RE_UDP_DQ_CALLID]);
-	str_init(&branch, out[RE_UDP_DQ_VIABRANCH]);
-	str_init(&fromtag, out[RE_UDP_DQ_FROMTAG]);
-	str_init(&totag, out[RE_UDP_DQ_TOTAG]);
+	str callid = STR_INIT(out[RE_UDP_DQ_CALLID]);
+	str branch = STR_INIT(out[RE_UDP_DQ_VIABRANCH]);
+	str fromtag = STR_INIT(out[RE_UDP_DQ_FROMTAG]);
+	str totag = STR_INIT(out[RE_UDP_DQ_TOTAG]);
 
 	if (call_delete_branch_by_id(&callid, &branch, &fromtag, &totag, NULL, -1))
 		return str_sprintf("%s E8\n", out[RE_UDP_COOKIE]);
@@ -390,14 +387,14 @@ str *call_delete_udp(char **out) {
 }
 str *call_query_udp(char **out) {
 	AUTO_CLEANUP_NULL(struct call *c, call_unlock_release);
-	str *ret, callid, fromtag, totag;
+	str *ret;
 	struct call_stats stats;
 
 	__C_DBG("got query for callid '%s'", out[RE_UDP_DQ_CALLID]);
 
-	str_init(&callid, out[RE_UDP_DQ_CALLID]);
-	str_init(&fromtag, out[RE_UDP_DQ_FROMTAG]);
-	str_init(&totag, out[RE_UDP_DQ_TOTAG]);
+	str callid = STR_INIT(out[RE_UDP_DQ_CALLID]);
+	str fromtag = STR_INIT(out[RE_UDP_DQ_FROMTAG]);
+	str totag = STR_INIT(out[RE_UDP_DQ_TOTAG]);
 
 	c = call_get_opmode(&callid, OP_OTHER);
 	if (!c) {
@@ -424,9 +421,7 @@ out:
 }
 
 void call_delete_tcp(char **out) {
-	str callid;
-
-	str_init(&callid, out[RE_TCP_D_CALLID]);
+	str callid = STR_INIT(out[RE_TCP_D_CALLID]);
 	call_delete_branch_by_id(&callid, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, -1);
 }
 
diff --git a/daemon/codec.c b/daemon/codec.c
index 04d9fe27a..d353596b8 100644
--- a/daemon/codec.c
+++ b/daemon/codec.c
@@ -2204,8 +2204,7 @@ static int packet_dtmf(struct codec_ssrc_handler *ch, struct codec_ssrc_handler
 
 		// provide an uninitialised buffer as potential output storage for DTMF
 		char buf[sizeof(struct telephone_event_payload)];
-		str ev_pl;
-		str_init_len(&ev_pl, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		str ev_pl = STR_INIT_LEN(buf, sizeof(buf));
 
 		int is_dtmf = dtmf_event_payload(&ev_pl, &ts, duration,
 				&input_ch->dtmf_event, &input_ch->dtmf_events);
@@ -3865,8 +3864,7 @@ void packet_encoded_packetize(AVPacket *pkt, struct codec_ssrc_handler *ch, stru
 		char *buf = malloc(pkt_len);
 		char *payload = buf + sizeof(struct rtp_header);
 		// tell our packetizer how much we want
-		str inout;
-		str_init_len(&inout, payload, payload_len);
+		str inout = STR_INIT_LEN(payload, payload_len);
 		// and request a packet
 		if (in_pkt)
 			ilogs(transcoding, LOG_DEBUG, "Adding %i bytes to packetizer", in_pkt->size);
@@ -4643,8 +4641,7 @@ void codec_tracker_update(struct codec_store *cs) {
 			ilogs(codec, LOG_DEBUG, "Adding supplemental codec " STR_FORMAT " for clock rate %u", STR_FMT(supp_codec), clockrate);
 
 			char *pt_s = g_strdup_printf(STR_FORMAT "/%u", STR_FMT(supp_codec), clockrate);
-			str pt_str;
-			str_init(&pt_str, pt_s);
+			str pt_str = STR_INIT(pt_s);
 
 			struct rtp_payload_type *pt = codec_add_payload_type(&pt_str, cs->media, NULL, NULL);
 			if (!pt)
diff --git a/daemon/janus.c b/daemon/janus.c
index d41d962d9..ca6f02a81 100644
--- a/daemon/janus.c
+++ b/daemon/janus.c
@@ -99,8 +99,7 @@ static struct call_monologue *janus_get_monologue(uint64_t handle_id, struct cal
 {
 	AUTO_CLEANUP_GBUF(handle_buf);
 	handle_buf = g_strdup_printf("%" PRIu64, handle_id);
-	str handle_str;
-	str_init(&handle_str, handle_buf);
+	str handle_str = STR_INIT(handle_buf);
 
 	return fn(call, &handle_str);
 }
@@ -844,8 +843,7 @@ static const char *janus_videoroom_configure(struct websocket_message *wm, struc
 		if (strcmp(jsep_type, "offer"))
 			return "Not an offer";
 
-		AUTO_CLEANUP(str sdp_in, str_free_dup) = STR_NULL;
-		str_init_dup(&sdp_in, jsep_sdp);
+		AUTO_CLEANUP(str sdp_in, str_free_dup) = STR_INIT_DUP(jsep_sdp);
 
 		AUTO_CLEANUP(struct sdp_ng_flags flags, call_ng_free_flags);
 		AUTO_CLEANUP(GQueue parsed, sdp_free) = G_QUEUE_INIT;
@@ -949,8 +947,7 @@ static const char *janus_videoroom_start(struct websocket_message *wm, struct ja
 	if (strcmp(jsep_type, "answer"))
 		return "Not an answer";
 
-	AUTO_CLEANUP(str sdp_in, str_free_dup) = STR_NULL;
-	str_init_dup(&sdp_in, jsep_sdp);
+	AUTO_CLEANUP(str sdp_in, str_free_dup) = STR_INIT_DUP(jsep_sdp);
 
 	AUTO_CLEANUP(struct sdp_ng_flags flags, call_ng_free_flags);
 	AUTO_CLEANUP(GQueue parsed, sdp_free) = G_QUEUE_INIT;
@@ -1080,8 +1077,7 @@ static const char *janus_videoroom(struct websocket_message *wm, struct janus_se
 	const char *req = json_reader_get_string_value(reader);
 	if (!req)
 		goto err;
-	str req_str;
-	str_init(&req_str, (char *) req);
+	str req_str = STR_INIT((char*) req);
 	json_reader_end_member(reader);
 
 	switch (__csh_lookup(&req_str)) {
@@ -1786,8 +1782,7 @@ static const char *websocket_janus_process_json(struct websocket_message *wm,
 
 	ilog(LOG_DEBUG, "Processing '%s' type Janus message", janus_cmd);
 
-	str janus_cmd_str;
-	str_init(&janus_cmd_str, (char *) janus_cmd);
+	str janus_cmd_str = STR_INIT((char*) janus_cmd);
 
 	err = NULL;
 
@@ -1900,8 +1895,7 @@ const char *websocket_janus_process(struct websocket_message *wm) {
 
 
 const char *websocket_janus_get(struct websocket_message *wm) {
-	str uri;
-	str_init(&uri, wm->uri);
+	str uri = STR_INIT(wm->uri);
 
 	ilog(LOG_DEBUG, "Processing Janus GET: '%s'", wm->uri);
 
@@ -1934,8 +1928,7 @@ const char *websocket_janus_get(struct websocket_message *wm) {
 
 
 const char *websocket_janus_post(struct websocket_message *wm) {
-	str uri;
-	str_init(&uri, wm->uri);
+	str uri = STR_INIT(wm->uri);
 
 	ilog(LOG_DEBUG, "Processing Janus POST: '%s'", wm->uri);
 
diff --git a/daemon/media_player.c b/daemon/media_player.c
index 20fa64277..4d895a961 100644
--- a/daemon/media_player.c
+++ b/daemon/media_player.c
@@ -1172,8 +1172,7 @@ success:;
 		goto err;
 	}
 
-	str blob;
-	str_init_len(&blob, row[0], lengths[0]);
+	str blob = STR_INIT_LEN(row[0], lengths[0]);
 	int ret = media_player_play_blob_id(mp, &blob, repeat, start_pos, id);
 
 	mysql_free_result(res);
diff --git a/daemon/redis.c b/daemon/redis.c
index c26e570af..fc2b9cf41 100644
--- a/daemon/redis.c
+++ b/daemon/redis.c
@@ -2155,8 +2155,7 @@ static void restore_thread(void *call_p, void *ctx_p) {
 	struct thread_ctx *ctx = ctx_p;
 	redisReply *call = call_p;
 	struct redis *r;
-	str callid;
-	str_init_len(&callid, call->str, call->len);
+	str callid = STR_INIT_LEN(call->str, call->len);
 
 	rlog(LOG_DEBUG, "Processing call ID '%s%.*s%s' from Redis", FMT_M(REDIS_FMT(call)));
 
diff --git a/daemon/rtcp.c b/daemon/rtcp.c
index 7ea217aad..5663ad66e 100644
--- a/daemon/rtcp.c
+++ b/daemon/rtcp.c
@@ -556,11 +556,9 @@ static int rtcp_rr(struct rtcp_chain_element *el, struct rtcp_process_ctx *log_c
 }
 
 static int rtcp_sdes(struct rtcp_chain_element *el, struct rtcp_process_ctx *log_ctx) {
-	str comp_s;
-
 	CAH(sdes_list_start, el->u.sdes);
 
-	str_init_len(&comp_s, (void *) el->u.sdes->chunks, el->len - sizeof(el->u.sdes->header));
+	str comp_s = STR_INIT_LEN((void *) el->u.sdes->chunks, el->len - sizeof(el->u.sdes->header));
 	int i = 0;
 	while (1) {
 		struct sdes_chunk *sdes_chunk = (struct sdes_chunk *) comp_s.s;
@@ -618,8 +616,7 @@ static void xr_voip_metrics(struct xr_rb_voip_metrics *rb, struct rtcp_process_c
 
 static int rtcp_xr(struct rtcp_chain_element *el, struct rtcp_process_ctx *log_ctx) {
 	CAH(common, el->u.rtcp_packet);
-	str comp_s;
-	str_init_len(&comp_s, el->u.buf + sizeof(el->u.xr->rtcp), el->len - sizeof(el->u.xr->rtcp));
+	str comp_s = STR_INIT_LEN(el->u.buf + sizeof(el->u.xr->rtcp), el->len - sizeof(el->u.xr->rtcp));
 	while (1) {
 		struct xr_report_block *rb = (void *) comp_s.s;
 		if (comp_s.len < sizeof(*rb))
@@ -1600,14 +1597,14 @@ void rtcp_send_report(struct call_media *media, struct ssrc_ctx *ssrc_out) {
 
 	// handle crypto
 
-	str rtcp_packet = STR_CONST_INIT_LEN(sr->str, sr->len);
+	str rtcp_packet = STR_INIT_LEN(sr->str, sr->len);
 
 	const struct streamhandler *crypt_handler = determine_handler(&transport_protocols[PROTO_RTP_AVP],
 			media, true);
 
 	if (crypt_handler && crypt_handler->out->rtcp_crypt) {
 		g_string_set_size(sr, sr->len + RTP_BUFFER_TAIL_ROOM);
-		rtcp_packet = STR_CONST_INIT_LEN(sr->str, sr->len - RTP_BUFFER_TAIL_ROOM);
+		rtcp_packet = STR_INIT_LEN(sr->str, sr->len - RTP_BUFFER_TAIL_ROOM);
 		crypt_handler->out->rtcp_crypt(&rtcp_packet, ps, ssrc_out);
 	}
 
diff --git a/daemon/sdp.c b/daemon/sdp.c
index b55113bec..602dde6b2 100644
--- a/daemon/sdp.c
+++ b/daemon/sdp.c
@@ -1216,8 +1216,7 @@ int sdp_parse(str *body, GQueue *sessions, const struct sdp_ng_flags *flags) {
 				goto new_session; // allowed for trickle ICE SDP fragments
 		}
 
-		str value_str;
-		str_init_len(&value_str, value, line_end - value);
+		str value_str = STR_INIT_LEN(value, line_end - value);
 
 		switch (b[0]) {
 			case 'v':
@@ -2818,8 +2817,7 @@ const char *sdp_get_sendrecv(struct call_media *media) {
 static void append_attr_to_gstring(GString *s, char * name, const str * value,
 		struct sdp_ng_flags *flags, enum media_type media_type)
 {
-	str attr;
-	str_init(&attr, name);
+	str attr = STR_INIT(name);
 	struct sdp_manipulations *sdp_manipulations = sdp_manipulations_get_by_id(flags, media_type);
 	/* take into account SDP arbitrary manipulations */
 	if (sdp_manipulate_remove(sdp_manipulations, &attr)) {
@@ -2842,8 +2840,7 @@ static void append_attr_to_gstring(GString *s, char * name, const str * value,
 static void append_attr_int_to_gstring(GString *s, char * name, const int * value,
 		struct sdp_ng_flags *flags, enum media_type media_type)
 {
-	str attr;
-	str_init(&attr, name);
+	str attr = STR_INIT(name);
 	struct sdp_manipulations *sdp_manipulations = sdp_manipulations_get_by_id(flags, media_type);
 	/* take into account SDP arbitrary manipulations */
 	if (sdp_manipulate_remove(sdp_manipulations, &attr)) {
diff --git a/daemon/t38.c b/daemon/t38.c
index 38eb7e84d..2860ccf57 100644
--- a/daemon/t38.c
+++ b/daemon/t38.c
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ static int t38_gateway_handler(t38_core_state_t *stat, void *user_data, const ui
 	g_string_append_len(s, (void *) &seq, 2);
 
 	// add primary IFP packet
-	str buf = STR_CONST_INIT_LEN((char *) b, len);
+	str buf = STR_INIT_LEN((char *) b, len);
 	__add_udptl(s, &buf);
 
 	// add error correction packets
@@ -717,7 +717,7 @@ int t38_gateway_input_udptl(struct t38_gateway *tg, const str *buf) {
 							"packet with seq %i from FEC",
 							seq_fec);
 
-					str rec_str = STR_CONST_INIT_LEN(rec_s->str, rec_s->len);
+					str rec_str = STR_INIT_LEN(rec_s->str, rec_s->len);
 					__fec_save(tg, &rec_str, seq_fec);
 					up = __make_udptl_packet(&rec_str, seq_fec);
 					packet_sequencer_insert(&tg->sequencer, &up->p);
diff --git a/daemon/websocket.c b/daemon/websocket.c
index 4b49d7bb9..0a7fab78c 100644
--- a/daemon/websocket.c
+++ b/daemon/websocket.c
@@ -432,8 +432,7 @@ static const char *websocket_http_cli(struct websocket_message *wm) {
 
 	ilogs(http, LOG_DEBUG, "Respoding to GET /cli/%s", uri);
 
-	str uri_cmd;
-	str_init(&uri_cmd, uri);
+	str uri_cmd = STR_INIT(uri);
 
 	struct cli_writer cw = {
 		.cw_printf = websocket_queue_printf,
@@ -451,8 +450,7 @@ static const char *websocket_http_cli(struct websocket_message *wm) {
 static const char *websocket_cli_process(struct websocket_message *wm) {
 	ilogs(http, LOG_DEBUG, "Processing websocket CLI req '%s'", wm->body->str);
 
-	str uri_cmd;
-	str_init_len(&uri_cmd, wm->body->str, wm->body->len);
+	str uri_cmd = STR_INIT_LEN(wm->body->str, wm->body->len);
 
 	struct cli_writer cw = {
 		.cw_printf = websocket_queue_printf,
diff --git a/lib/str.h b/lib/str.h
index ccd0079a0..7335e6cc3 100644
--- a/lib/str.h
+++ b/lib/str.h
@@ -34,7 +34,9 @@ typedef struct _str str;
 #define STR_NULL ((str) { NULL, 0 })
 #define STR_EMPTY ((str) { "", 0 })
 #define STR_CONST_INIT(s) ((str) { s, sizeof(s)-1 })
-#define STR_CONST_INIT_LEN(s, len) ((str) { s, len })
+#define STR_INIT(s) ((str) { s, (s) ? strlen(s) : 0 })
+#define STR_INIT_LEN(s, len) ((str) { s, len })
+#define STR_INIT_DUP(s) ((str) { g_strdup(s), strlen(s) })
 #define STR_CONST_INIT_BUF(buf) ((str) { (char *) &buf, sizeof(buf) })
 
 
diff --git a/recording-daemon/db.c b/recording-daemon/db.c
index 5076dbe50..a38b1e9be 100644
--- a/recording-daemon/db.c
+++ b/recording-daemon/db.c
@@ -272,8 +272,7 @@ static void db_do_call_metadata(metafile_t *mf) {
 	my_ull(&b[0], &mf->db_id); // stays persistent
 
 	// XXX offload this parsing to proxy module -> bencode list/dictionary
-	str all_meta;
-	str_init(&all_meta, mf->metadata_db);
+	str all_meta = STR_INIT(mf->metadata_db);
 	while (all_meta.len > 1) {
 		str token;
 		if (str_token_sep(&token, &all_meta, '|'))
diff --git a/recording-daemon/decoder.c b/recording-daemon/decoder.c
index d769f2aef..a16bfce37 100644
--- a/recording-daemon/decoder.c
+++ b/recording-daemon/decoder.c
@@ -26,14 +26,13 @@ int resample_audio;
 
 
 decode_t *decoder_new(const char *payload_str, const char *format, int ptime, output_t *outp) {
-	str name;
 	char *slash = strchr(payload_str, '/');
 	if (!slash) {
 		ilog(LOG_WARN, "Invalid payload format: %s", payload_str);
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
-	str_init_len(&name, (char *) payload_str, slash - payload_str);
+	str name = STR_INIT_LEN((char *) payload_str, slash - payload_str);
 	int clockrate = atoi(slash + 1);
 	if (clockrate <= 0) {
 		ilog(LOG_ERR, "Invalid clock rate %i (parsed from '%.20s'/'%.20s')",
@@ -83,8 +82,7 @@ decode_t *decoder_new(const char *payload_str, const char *format, int ptime, ou
 	else
 		out_format.format = AV_SAMPLE_FMT_S16; // needed for TLS-only scenarios
 
-	str fmtp;
-	str_init(&fmtp, (char *) format);
+	str fmtp = STR_INIT((char*) format);
 
 	decoder_t *dec = decoder_new_fmtp(def, rtp_clockrate, channels, ptime, &out_format, NULL, &fmtp, NULL);
 	if (!dec)
diff --git a/recording-daemon/packet.c b/recording-daemon/packet.c
index 57d2e034f..6ccecfdcf 100644
--- a/recording-daemon/packet.c
+++ b/recording-daemon/packet.c
@@ -366,8 +366,7 @@ void packet_process(stream_t *stream, unsigned char *buf, unsigned len) {
 	packet->buffer = buf; // handing it over
 
 	// XXX more checking here
-	str bufstr;
-	str_init_len(&bufstr, packet->buffer, len);
+	str bufstr = STR_INIT_LEN(packet->buffer, len);
 	packet->ip = (void *) bufstr.s;
 	// XXX kernel already does this - add metadata?
 	if (packet->ip->version == 4) {
diff --git a/t/test-amr-decode.c b/t/test-amr-decode.c
index bd58f9770..e085737f9 100644
--- a/t/test-amr-decode.c
+++ b/t/test-amr-decode.c
@@ -37,8 +37,7 @@ static void do_test_amr_xx(const char *file, int line,
 		char *codec, int clockrate)
 {
 	printf("running test %s:%i\n", file, line);
-	str codec_name;
-	str_init(&codec_name, codec);
+	str codec_name = STR_INIT(codec);
 	codec_def_t *def = codec_find(&codec_name, MT_AUDIO);
 	assert(def);
 	if (!def->support_encoding || !def->support_decoding) {
diff --git a/t/test-amr-encode.c b/t/test-amr-encode.c
index 75ff2a6f3..d5a24a336 100644
--- a/t/test-amr-encode.c
+++ b/t/test-amr-encode.c
@@ -47,8 +47,7 @@ static void do_test_amr_xx(const char *file, int line,
 		int bitrate, char *codec, int clockrate)
 {
 	printf("running test %s:%i\n", file, line);
-	str codec_name;
-	str_init(&codec_name, codec);
+	str codec_name = STR_INIT(codec);
 	codec_def_t *def = codec_find(&codec_name, MT_AUDIO);
 	assert(def);
 	if (!def->support_encoding || !def->support_decoding) {
diff --git a/t/test-bitstr.c b/t/test-bitstr.c
index 7f9d77d10..d3fecc97f 100644
--- a/t/test-bitstr.c
+++ b/t/test-bitstr.c
@@ -39,8 +39,7 @@ int do_test(const char *input, unsigned int input_len,
 {
 	char in_buf[input_len];
 	memcpy(in_buf, input, input_len);
-	str inp;
-	str_init_len(&inp, in_buf, input_len);
+	str inp = STR_INIT_LEN(in_buf, input_len);
 	bitstr inp_bs;
 	bitstr_init(&inp_bs, &inp);
 
diff --git a/t/test-transcode.c b/t/test-transcode.c
index a869c0f2a..0e879c453 100644
--- a/t/test-transcode.c
+++ b/t/test-transcode.c
@@ -17,8 +17,7 @@ GString *dtmf_logs;
 struct control_ng *rtpe_control_ng[2];
 
 static str *sdup(char *s) {
-	str r;
-	str_init(&r, s);
+	str r = STR_INIT(s);
 	return str_dup(&r);
 }
 static void queue_dump(GString *s, GQueue *q) {
@@ -117,8 +116,7 @@ static void __start(const char *file, int line) {
 static void codec_set(char *c) {
 	// from call_ng_flags_str_ht_split
 	c = strdup(c);
-	str s;
-	str_init(&s, c);
+	str s = STR_INIT(c);
 	str splitter = s;
 
 	while (1) {