diff --git a/include/wx/msw/private.h b/include/wx/msw/private.h
index d1f5d61b8c..31a435f2a4 100644
--- a/include/wx/msw/private.h
+++ b/include/wx/msw/private.h
@@ -330,6 +330,19 @@ inline RECT wxGetClientRect(HWND hwnd)
 // small helper classes
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+// a template to make initializing Windows styructs less painful: it zeroes all
+// the struct fields and also sets cbSize member to the correct value (and so
+// can be only used with structures which have this member...)
+template <class T>
+struct WinStruct : public T
+{
+    WinStruct()
+    {
+        ::ZeroMemory(this, cbSize = sizeof(T));
+    }
+};
+
+
 // create an instance of this class and use it as the HDC for screen, will
 // automatically release the DC going out of scope
 class ScreenHDC