diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3d707383..c268c126 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -4031,10 +4031,22 @@ Provide the static initialization value of an object defined with a
 ISHARED\_PTR\_INTERFACE extra fields. It shall be used only for global
 variables with the \_init\_once function.
 
-Usage:
+Usage (provided that the interface is used as the first element of the structure):
 
         struct mystruct variable = { ISHARED_PTR_STATIC_INIT(ishared_double, struct mystruct) };
 
+#### ISHARED\_PTR\_STATIC\_DESIGNATED\_INIT(name, type)
+
+Provide the static initialization value of an object defined with a 
+ISHARED\_PTR\_INTERFACE extra fields. It shall be used only for global
+variables with the \_init\_once function.
+
+It uses designated initializers to set the right fields.
+
+Usage:
+
+        struct mystruct variable = { ISHARED_PTR_STATIC_DESIGNATED_INIT(ishared_double, struct mystruct) };
+
 #### ISHARED\_PTR\_DEF(name, type[, oplist])
 
 Define the associated methods to handle the shared pointer named 'name'
diff --git a/m-i-shared.h b/m-i-shared.h
index 7f07af62..cd2c9ae2 100644
--- a/m-i-shared.h
+++ b/m-i-shared.h
@@ -46,10 +46,14 @@ M_BEGIN_PROTECTED_CODE
   atomic_int M_C(name, _cpt)
 
 
-/* Value of the interface field for static intialization. */
-#define ISHARED_PTR_STATIC_INIT(name, type)                                   \
+/* Value of the interface field for static intialization (Uses C99 designated element). */
+#define ISHARED_PTR_STATIC_DESIGNATED_INIT(name, type)                                   \
   .M_C(name, _cpt) = ATOMIC_VAR_INIT(0)
 
+/* Value of the interface field for static intialization (Uses C89 designated element). */
+#define ISHARED_PTR_STATIC_INIT(name, type)                                   \
+  ATOMIC_VAR_INIT(0)
+
 
 /* Define the intrusive shared pointer type and its static inline functions.
    USAGE: ISHARED_PTR_DEF(name, type, [, oplist]) */
diff --git a/tests/test-mishared.c b/tests/test-mishared.c
index ee7eeae5..171d81f6 100644
--- a/tests/test-mishared.c
+++ b/tests/test-mishared.c
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ static void test_single(void)
 
     ishared1_clear(p2);
 
-    struct ishared_s *x = malloc(sizeof (struct ishared_s));
+    struct ishared_s *x = (struct ishared_s *) malloc(sizeof (struct ishared_s));
     assert(x != NULL);
     ishared_init_data(x);
     p1 = ishared1_init(x);
@@ -85,7 +85,11 @@ static void test_single(void)
     ishared1_clear(p1);
 }
 
-static struct ishared_s g_var = {ISHARED_PTR_STATIC_INIT(ishared2, struct ishared_s) };
+static struct ishared_s g_var = { 
+    ISHARED_PTR_STATIC_INIT(ishared1, struct ishared_s),
+    ISHARED_PTR_STATIC_INIT(ishared2, struct ishared_s),
+    {}
+};
 
 static void test_static(void)
 {
@@ -105,7 +109,7 @@ static void test_static(void)
 #define MAX_THREAD 256
 #define MAX_VAR 5
 
-#define VAL(x) { ISHARED_PTR_STATIC_INIT(ishared2, struct ishared_s) } 
+#define VAL(x) { ISHARED_PTR_STATIC_INIT(ishared1, struct ishared_s), ISHARED_PTR_STATIC_INIT(ishared2, struct ishared_s), {} } 
 static struct ishared_s g_tab[MAX_VAR] = { 
     M_MAP_C(VAL, M_SEQ(1, MAX_VAR))
 };