diff --git a/src/common/coll.c b/src/common/coll.c
index fa7fe6e9a..ffae7f608 100644
--- a/src/common/coll.c
+++ b/src/common/coll.c
@@ -45,6 +45,17 @@
 
 
 
+/*****************************************************************************/
+/*     	      	       		     Data				     */
+/*****************************************************************************/
+
+
+
+/* An empty collection */
+const Collection EmptyCollection = STATIC_COLLECTION_INITIALIZER;
+
+
+
 /*****************************************************************************/
 /*     	      	       		     Code				     */
 /*****************************************************************************/
diff --git a/src/common/coll.h b/src/common/coll.h
index 7f29a1a5e..9f5539afc 100644
--- a/src/common/coll.h
+++ b/src/common/coll.h
@@ -59,9 +59,15 @@ struct Collection {
     void**	    	Items;		/* Array with dynamic size */
 };
 
+/* An empty collection */
+extern const Collection EmptyCollection;
+
 /* Initializer for static collections */
 #define STATIC_COLLECTION_INITIALIZER	{ 0, 0, 0 }
 
+/* Initializer for auto collections */
+#define AUTO_COLLECTION_INITIALIZER     EmptyCollection;
+
 
 
 /*****************************************************************************/