diff --git a/include/qapi/util.h b/include/qapi/util.h
index 6178e98e97..d7bfb30e25 100644
--- a/include/qapi/util.h
+++ b/include/qapi/util.h
@@ -37,4 +37,17 @@ int parse_qapi_name(const char *name, bool complete);
     (list) = _tmp; \
 } while (0)
 
+/*
+ * For any pointer to a GenericList @tail (usually the 'next' member of a
+ * list element), insert @element at the back and update the tail.
+ *
+ * Note that this macro evaluates @element exactly once, so it is safe
+ * to have side-effects with that argument.
+ */
+#define QAPI_LIST_APPEND(tail, element) do { \
+    *(tail) = g_malloc0(sizeof(**(tail))); \
+    (*(tail))->value = (element); \
+    (tail) = &(*(tail))->next; \
+} while (0)
+
 #endif