diff --git a/src/util/IntrusiveList.hxx b/src/util/IntrusiveList.hxx
index e5af95e16..a004759a0 100644
--- a/src/util/IntrusiveList.hxx
+++ b/src/util/IntrusiveList.hxx
@@ -538,6 +538,10 @@ public:
 	 * Like insert(), but insert after the given position.
 	 */
 	void insert_after(iterator p, reference t) noexcept {
+		if constexpr (options.zero_initialized)
+			if (head.next == nullptr)
+				head = {&head, &head};
+
 		insert(std::next(p), t);
 	}