diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 54995afc..f9594b6e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1949,9 +1949,17 @@ Clear the variant 'variant (aka destructor).
 
 Clean the variant 'variant and make it empty.
 
+##### void name\_init_elementN(name\_t variant)
+
+Initialize the variant 'variant' to the type of 'element1'
+
+##### void name\_init\_set_elementN(name\_t variant, const typeN elementN)
+
+Initialize and set the variant 'variant' to the type and value of 'elementN'.
+
 ##### void name\_set_elementN(name\_t variant, const typeN elementN)
 
-Set the variant 'variant' to the type and value of 'element1'.
+Set the variant 'variant' to the type and value of 'elementN'.
 
 ##### typeN * name\_get_elementN(name\_t variant)
 
diff --git a/m-variant.h b/m-variant.h
index 9bf86fb8..6dd61e35 100644
--- a/m-variant.h
+++ b/m-variant.h
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@
   VARIANTI_DEFINE_INIT_SET(name, __VA_ARGS__)          \
   VARIANTI_DEFINE_SET(name, __VA_ARGS__)               \
   VARIANTI_DEFINE_TEST_P(name, __VA_ARGS__)            \
+  VARIANTI_DEFINE_INITER(name, __VA_ARGS__)            \
+  VARIANTI_DEFINE_INIT_SETTER(name, __VA_ARGS__)       \
   VARIANTI_DEFINE_SETTER(name, __VA_ARGS__)            \
   VARIANTI_DEFINE_GETTER(name, __VA_ARGS__)            \
   VARIANTI_DEFINE_CLEAN_FUNC(name, __VA_ARGS__)        \
@@ -177,7 +179,28 @@
   }
 
 
-#define VARIANTI_DEFINE_SETTER(name, ...)                               \
+#define VARIANTI_DEFINE_INITER(name, ...)                       \
+  M_MAP2(VARIANTI_DEFINE_INITER_FUNC, name, __VA_ARGS__)
+#define VARIANTI_DEFINE_INITER_FUNC(name, a)                            \
+  static inline void M_C3(name, _init_, VARIANTI_GET_FIELD a)(M_C(name,_t) my) { \
+    /* Reinit variable with the given value */                          \
+    my->type = M_C3(name, _, VARIANTI_GET_FIELD a);                     \
+    VARIANTI_GET_INIT a(my -> value. VARIANTI_GET_FIELD a);             \
+  }
+
+
+#define VARIANTI_DEFINE_INIT_SETTER(name, ...)                  \
+  M_MAP2(VARIANTI_DEFINE_INIT_SETTER_FUNC, name, __VA_ARGS__)
+#define VARIANTI_DEFINE_INIT_SETTER_FUNC(name, a)                       \
+  static inline void M_C3(name, _init_set_, VARIANTI_GET_FIELD a)(M_C(name,_t) my, \
+                         VARIANTI_GET_TYPE a  VARIANTI_GET_FIELD a  ) { \
+    my->type = M_C3(name, _, VARIANTI_GET_FIELD a);                     \
+    VARIANTI_GET_INIT_SET a(my -> value. VARIANTI_GET_FIELD a,          \
+      VARIANTI_GET_FIELD a);                                            \
+  }
+
+
+#define VARIANTI_DEFINE_SETTER(name, ...)                       \
   M_MAP2(VARIANTI_DEFINE_SETTER_FUNC, name, __VA_ARGS__)
 #define VARIANTI_DEFINE_SETTER_FUNC(name, a)                            \
   static inline void M_C3(name, _set_, VARIANTI_GET_FIELD a)(M_C(name,_t) my, \
@@ -194,7 +217,6 @@
     }                                                                   \
   }
 
-
 #define VARIANTI_DEFINE_GETTER(name, ...)                       \
   M_MAP2(VARIANTI_DEFINE_GETTER_FUNC, name, __VA_ARGS__)
 #define VARIANTI_DEFINE_GETTER_FUNC(name, a)                            \
diff --git a/tests/test-mvariant.c b/tests/test-mvariant.c
index c940b8b2..0a369949 100644
--- a/tests/test-mvariant.c
+++ b/tests/test-mvariant.c
@@ -134,6 +134,18 @@ static void test_pair(void)
   
   pair_clear(p2);
   pair_clear(p);
+
+  pair_init_value(p);
+  assert(pair_value_p(p));
+  f = pair_get_value(p);
+  assert (*f == 0.0);
+  pair_clear(p);
+
+  pair_init_set_value(p, 17.0);
+  assert(pair_value_p(p));
+  f = pair_get_value(p);
+  assert (*f == 17.0);
+  pair_clear(p);
 }
 
 VARIANT_DEF2(triple,