diff --git a/src/include/sof/list.h b/src/include/sof/list.h
index 15bb266002b5..3174377ee19e 100644
--- a/src/include/sof/list.h
+++ b/src/include/sof/list.h
@@ -72,13 +72,24 @@ static inline void list_item_append(struct list_item *item,
 	list->prev = item;
 }
 
-/* delete item from the list */
+/* delete item from the list leaves deleted list item
+ *in undefined state list_is_empty won't return true
+ */
 static inline void list_item_del(struct list_item *item)
 {
 	item->next->prev = item->prev;
 	item->prev->next = item->next;
 }
 
+/* delete item from the list list iteam will be reinitialised
+ * and list_is_empty will return true
+ */
+static inline void list_item_del_init(struct list_item *item)
+{
+	list_item_del(item);
+	list_init(item);
+}
+
 /* is list item the last item in list ? */
 static inline int list_item_is_last(struct list_item *item,
 				struct list_item *list)