diff --git a/library/x509_csr.c b/library/x509_csr.c
index 30cd1c1..65bc63c 100644
--- a/library/x509_csr.c
+++ b/library/x509_csr.c
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@
     if( csr == NULL || buf == NULL )
         return( POLARSSL_ERR_X509_BAD_INPUT_DATA );
 
-    memset( csr, 0, sizeof( x509_csr ) );
+    x509_csr_init( csr );
 
 #if defined(POLARSSL_PEM_PARSE_C)
     pem_init( &pem );
@@ -406,6 +406,14 @@
 }
 
 /*
+ * Initialize a CSR
+ */
+void x509_csr_init( x509_csr *csr )
+{
+    memset( csr, 0, sizeof(x509_csr) );
+}
+
+/*
  * Unallocate all CSR data
  */
 void x509_csr_free( x509_csr *csr )