diff --git a/library/x509_crt.c b/library/x509_crt.c
index f57fddc..f73724e 100644
--- a/library/x509_crt.c
+++ b/library/x509_crt.c
@@ -785,7 +785,7 @@
 
         prev = crt;
         crt = crt->next;
-        memset( crt, 0, sizeof( x509_cert ) );
+        x509_crt_init( crt );
     }
 
     if( ( ret = x509parse_crt_der_core( crt, buf, buflen ) ) != 0 )
@@ -1603,6 +1603,14 @@
 }
 
 /*
+ * Initialize a certificate chain
+ */
+void x509_crt_init( x509_cert *crt )
+{
+    memset( crt, 0, sizeof(x509_cert) );
+}
+
+/*
  * Unallocate all certificate data
  */
 void x509_crt_free( x509_cert *crt )