diff --git a/Documentation/technical/api-string-list.txt b/Documentation/technical/api-string-list.txt
index 32b35d9181..155ac8cb10 100644
--- a/Documentation/technical/api-string-list.txt
+++ b/Documentation/technical/api-string-list.txt
@@ -44,10 +44,9 @@ member (you need this if you add things later) and you should set the
 Example:
 
 ----
-struct string_list list;
+struct string_list list = STRING_LIST_INIT_NODUP;
 int i;
 
-memset(&list, 0, sizeof(struct string_list));
 string_list_append(&list, "foo");
 string_list_append(&list, "bar");
 for (i = 0; i < list.nr; i++)