diff --git a/include/wx/list.h b/include/wx/list.h
index d475c569b4..23ab3e1ff8 100644
--- a/include/wx/list.h
+++ b/include/wx/list.h
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ public:
 protected:
         // copy ctor and assignment operator
     wxListBase(const wxListBase& list)
-        { DoCopy(list); }
+        { Init(); DoCopy(list); }
     wxListBase& operator=(const wxListBase& list)
         { Clear(); DoCopy(list); return *this; }