diff --git a/list.c b/list.c
index 9ce434a..7a0c33b 100644
--- a/list.c
+++ b/list.c
@@ -4,32 +4,34 @@
 #include "string.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 
-#ifndef LIST_DEFAULT_RESERVE
 #define LIST_DEFAULT_RESERVE 4
-#endif
 
 List list_init(size_t element_size) {
+    return list_with_len(element_size, 0);
+}
+
+List list_with_len(size_t element_size, size_t len) {
     List self = {
         .element_size = element_size,
-        .cap = LIST_DEFAULT_RESERVE,
+        .cap = 0,
         .len = 0,
-        .data = malloc(element_size * LIST_DEFAULT_RESERVE),
+        .data = NULL,
     };
-
-    if(self.data == NULL) {
-        LOG_ERROR("Failed to allocate list with starting capacity of %d", LIST_DEFAULT_RESERVE);
-        self.cap = 0;
+    if(len != 0) {
+        list_set_len(&self, len);
+        if (self.data == NULL) {
+            LOG_ERROR("Failed to allocate list with starting capacity of %d", LIST_DEFAULT_RESERVE);
+            self.cap = 0;
+        }
     }
-
     return self;
 }
 
 List list_copy(const List* source) {
     List self = list_init(source->element_size);
-    list_reserve(&self, source->cap);
+    list_set_len(&self, source->cap);
     if(self.cap > 0) {
         memcpy(self.data, source->data, source->element_size * source->len);
-        self.len = source->len;
     } else {
         LOG_ERROR("Failed to reserve space");
     }
diff --git a/list.h b/list.h
index 91fecbd..4fb79d0 100644
--- a/list.h
+++ b/list.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ struct List {
 };
 
 extern List list_init(size_t element_size);
+extern List list_with_len(size_t element_size, size_t len);
 extern List list_copy(const List* source);
 extern void list_empty(List* list);
 
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ extern void* list_iterator_end(List* self);
 extern size_t list_contains(List* self, void* query);
 
 #define list_from_type(T) list_init(sizeof(T))
+#define list_from_type_with_len(T, __len) list_with_len(sizeof(T), __len)
 #define list_foreach(T, iter, list) for(T iter = list_iterator_begin(list); iter != (T)list_iterator_end(list); ++iter)
 #define list_at_as(T, __list, __i) ((T*)(list_at(__list, __i)))