diff --git a/include/common/mem.h b/include/common/mem.h
index b0e91217..577970d1 100644
--- a/include/common/mem.h
+++ b/include/common/mem.h
@@ -11,6 +11,17 @@
  */
 void *xzalloc(size_t size);
 
+/*
+ * Type-safe macros in the style of C++ new/new[].
+ * <expr> may be either a type name or value expression.
+ *
+ * Examples:
+ *   struct wlr_box *box = znew(*box);
+ *   char *buf = znew_n(char, 80);
+ */
+#define znew(expr)       ((__typeof__(expr) *)xzalloc(sizeof(expr)))
+#define znew_n(expr, n)  ((__typeof__(expr) *)xzalloc((n) * sizeof(expr)))
+
 /*
  * As defined in FreeBSD.
  * Like realloc(), but calls exit() on error.
diff --git a/src/action.c b/src/action.c
index 233348fa..2a4aaeb2 100644
--- a/src/action.c
+++ b/src/action.c
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ action_create(const char *action_name)
 		wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "action name not specified");
 		return NULL;
 	}
-	struct action *action = xzalloc(sizeof(struct action));
+	struct action *action = znew(*action);
 	action->type = action_type_from_str(action_name);
 	wl_list_init(&action->args);
 	return action;
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ void
 action_arg_add_str(struct action *action, char *key, const char *value)
 {
 	assert(value && "Tried to add NULL action string argument");
-	struct action_arg_str *arg = xzalloc(sizeof(*arg));
+	struct action_arg_str *arg = znew(*arg);
 	arg->base.type = LAB_ACTION_ARG_STR;
 	if (key) {
 		arg->base.key = xstrdup(key);
diff --git a/src/buffer.c b/src/buffer.c
index e9b02b95..e96c4d88 100644
--- a/src/buffer.c
+++ b/src/buffer.c
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ struct lab_data_buffer *
 buffer_create_cairo(uint32_t width, uint32_t height, float scale,
 	bool free_on_destroy)
 {
-	struct lab_data_buffer *buffer = xzalloc(sizeof(*buffer));
+	struct lab_data_buffer *buffer = znew(*buffer);
 	buffer->unscaled_width = width;
 	buffer->unscaled_height = height;
 	width *= scale;
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ struct lab_data_buffer *
 buffer_create_wrap(void *pixel_data, uint32_t width, uint32_t height,
 	uint32_t stride, bool free_on_destroy)
 {
-	struct lab_data_buffer *buffer = xzalloc(sizeof(*buffer));
+	struct lab_data_buffer *buffer = znew(*buffer);
 	wlr_buffer_init(&buffer->base, &data_buffer_impl, width, height);
 	buffer->data = pixel_data;
 	buffer->format = DRM_FORMAT_ARGB8888;
diff --git a/src/common/graphic-helpers.c b/src/common/graphic-helpers.c
index f7ae2577..65cd4d7b 100644
--- a/src/common/graphic-helpers.c
+++ b/src/common/graphic-helpers.c
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ multi_rect_destroy_notify(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data)
 struct multi_rect *
 multi_rect_create(struct wlr_scene_tree *parent, float *colors[3], int line_width)
 {
-	struct multi_rect *rect = xzalloc(sizeof(*rect));
+	struct multi_rect *rect = znew(*rect);
 	rect->line_width = line_width;
 	rect->tree = wlr_scene_tree_create(parent);
 	rect->destroy.notify = multi_rect_destroy_notify;
diff --git a/src/common/scaled_font_buffer.c b/src/common/scaled_font_buffer.c
index 87ac0cd0..61c98ff2 100644
--- a/src/common/scaled_font_buffer.c
+++ b/src/common/scaled_font_buffer.c
@@ -46,8 +46,7 @@ struct scaled_font_buffer *
 scaled_font_buffer_create(struct wlr_scene_tree *parent)
 {
 	assert(parent);
-	struct scaled_font_buffer *self = xzalloc(sizeof(*self));
-
+	struct scaled_font_buffer *self = znew(*self);
 	struct scaled_scene_buffer *scaled_buffer
 		= scaled_scene_buffer_create(parent, &impl);
 	if (!scaled_buffer) {
diff --git a/src/common/scaled_scene_buffer.c b/src/common/scaled_scene_buffer.c
index cc543ca0..85638e6f 100644
--- a/src/common/scaled_scene_buffer.c
+++ b/src/common/scaled_scene_buffer.c
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ _update_buffer(struct scaled_scene_buffer *self, double scale)
 
 	/* Create or reuse cache entry */
 	if (wl_list_length(&self->cache) < LAB_SCALED_BUFFER_MAX_CACHE) {
-		cache_entry = xzalloc(sizeof(*cache_entry));
+		cache_entry = znew(*cache_entry);
 	} else {
 		cache_entry = wl_container_of(self->cache.prev, cache_entry, link);
 		if (cache_entry->buffer) {
@@ -151,8 +151,7 @@ scaled_scene_buffer_create(struct wlr_scene_tree *parent,
 	assert(impl);
 	assert(impl->create_buffer);
 
-	struct scaled_scene_buffer *self = xzalloc(sizeof(*self));
-
+	struct scaled_scene_buffer *self = znew(*self);
 	self->scene_buffer = wlr_scene_buffer_create(parent, NULL);
 	if (!self->scene_buffer) {
 		wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "Failed to create scene buffer");
diff --git a/src/config/keybind.c b/src/config/keybind.c
index 10be0875..08b5e9ba 100644
--- a/src/config/keybind.c
+++ b/src/config/keybind.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ parse_modifier(const char *symname)
 struct keybind *
 keybind_create(const char *keybind)
 {
-	struct keybind *k = xzalloc(sizeof(struct keybind));
+	struct keybind *k = znew(*k);
 	xkb_keysym_t keysyms[MAX_KEYSYMS];
 	gchar **symnames = g_strsplit(keybind, "-", -1);
 	for (int i = 0; symnames[i]; i++) {
diff --git a/src/config/libinput.c b/src/config/libinput.c
index 581987cf..685c6720 100644
--- a/src/config/libinput.c
+++ b/src/config/libinput.c
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ get_device_type(const char *s)
 struct libinput_category *
 libinput_category_create(void)
 {
-	struct libinput_category *l = xzalloc(sizeof(struct libinput_category));
+	struct libinput_category *l = znew(*l);
 	libinput_category_init(l);
 	wl_list_insert(&rc.libinput_categories, &l->link);
 	return l;
diff --git a/src/config/mousebind.c b/src/config/mousebind.c
index 45029c93..1b1d5c74 100644
--- a/src/config/mousebind.c
+++ b/src/config/mousebind.c
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ mousebind_create(const char *context)
 		wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "mousebind context not specified");
 		return NULL;
 	}
-	struct mousebind *m = xzalloc(sizeof(struct mousebind));
+	struct mousebind *m = znew(*m);
 	m->context = context_from_str(context);
 	if (m->context != LAB_SSD_NONE) {
 		wl_list_insert(rc.mousebinds.prev, &m->link);
diff --git a/src/config/rcxml.c b/src/config/rcxml.c
index f9f166ff..b844fb07 100644
--- a/src/config/rcxml.c
+++ b/src/config/rcxml.c
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ entry(xmlNode *node, char *nodename, char *content)
 	} else if (!strcasecmp(nodename, "cycleViewOutlines.core")) {
 		rc.cycle_preview_outlines = get_bool(content);
 	} else if (!strcasecmp(nodename, "name.names.desktops")) {
-		struct workspace *workspace = xzalloc(sizeof(struct workspace));
+		struct workspace *workspace = znew(*workspace);
 		workspace->name = xstrdup(content);
 		wl_list_insert(rc.workspace_config.workspaces.prev, &workspace->link);
 	} else if (!strcasecmp(nodename, "popupTime.desktops")) {
@@ -685,7 +685,7 @@ post_processing(void)
 		l->type = DEFAULT_DEVICE;
 	}
 	if (!wl_list_length(&rc.workspace_config.workspaces)) {
-		struct workspace *workspace = xzalloc(sizeof(struct workspace));
+		struct workspace *workspace = znew(*workspace);
 		workspace->name = xstrdup("Default");
 		wl_list_insert(rc.workspace_config.workspaces.prev, &workspace->link);
 	}
diff --git a/src/config/session.c b/src/config/session.c
index 1524edd0..71855c9e 100644
--- a/src/config/session.c
+++ b/src/config/session.c
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ build_path(const char *dir, const char *filename)
 		return NULL;
 	}
 	int len = strlen(dir) + strlen(filename) + 2;
-	char *buffer = xzalloc(len);
+	char *buffer = znew_n(char, len);
 	strcat(buffer, dir);
 	strcat(buffer, "/");
 	strcat(buffer, filename);
@@ -101,13 +101,13 @@ update_activation_env(const char *env_keys)
 	const char *dbus = "dbus-update-activation-environment ";
 	const char *systemd = "systemctl --user import-environment ";
 
-	cmd = xzalloc(strlen(dbus) + strlen(env_keys) + 1);
+	cmd = znew_n(char, strlen(dbus) + strlen(env_keys) + 1);
 	strcat(cmd, dbus);
 	strcat(cmd, env_keys);
 	spawn_async_no_shell(cmd);
 	free(cmd);
 
-	cmd = xzalloc(strlen(systemd) + strlen(env_keys) + 1);
+	cmd = znew_n(char, strlen(systemd) + strlen(env_keys) + 1);
 	strcat(cmd, systemd);
 	strcat(cmd, env_keys);
 	spawn_async_no_shell(cmd);
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ session_autostart_init(const char *dir)
 	}
 	wlr_log(WLR_INFO, "run autostart file %s", autostart);
 	int len = strlen(autostart) + 4;
-	char *cmd = xzalloc(len);
+	char *cmd = znew_n(char, len);
 	strcat(cmd, "sh ");
 	strcat(cmd, autostart);
 	spawn_async_no_shell(cmd);
diff --git a/src/cursor.c b/src/cursor.c
index ff9dc0b1..7eac1e9b 100644
--- a/src/cursor.c
+++ b/src/cursor.c
@@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ create_constraint(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data)
 	struct wlr_pointer_constraint_v1 *wlr_constraint = data;
 	struct server *server = wl_container_of(listener, server,
 		new_constraint);
-	struct constraint *constraint = xzalloc(sizeof(struct constraint));
+	struct constraint *constraint = znew(*constraint);
 
 	constraint->constraint = wlr_constraint;
 	constraint->seat = &server->seat;
diff --git a/src/layers.c b/src/layers.c
index f03f2eba..94a2d7ed 100644
--- a/src/layers.c
+++ b/src/layers.c
@@ -202,9 +202,7 @@ static struct lab_layer_popup *
 create_popup(struct wlr_xdg_popup *wlr_popup, struct wlr_scene_tree *parent,
 		struct wlr_box *output_toplevel_sx_box)
 {
-	struct lab_layer_popup *popup =
-		xzalloc(sizeof(struct lab_layer_popup));
-
+	struct lab_layer_popup *popup = znew(*popup);
 	popup->wlr_popup = wlr_popup;
 	popup->scene_tree =
 		wlr_scene_xdg_surface_create(parent, wlr_popup->base);
@@ -322,8 +320,7 @@ new_layer_surface_notify(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data)
 		layer_surface->output = output;
 	}
 
-	struct lab_layer_surface *surface =
-		xzalloc(sizeof(struct lab_layer_surface));
+	struct lab_layer_surface *surface = znew(*surface);
 
 	surface->surface_commit.notify = surface_commit_notify;
 	wl_signal_add(&layer_surface->surface->events.commit,
diff --git a/src/menu/menu.c b/src/menu/menu.c
index c839c113..9c990927 100644
--- a/src/menu/menu.c
+++ b/src/menu/menu.c
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ menu_get_by_id(const char *id)
 static struct menuitem *
 item_create(struct menu *menu, const char *text, bool show_arrow)
 {
-	struct menuitem *menuitem = xzalloc(sizeof(struct menuitem));
+	struct menuitem *menuitem = znew(*menuitem);
 	menuitem->parent = menu;
 	menuitem->selectable = true;
 	struct server *server = menu->server;
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ item_create(struct menu *menu, const char *text, bool show_arrow)
 static struct menuitem *
 separator_create(struct menu *menu, const char *label)
 {
-	struct menuitem *menuitem = xzalloc(sizeof(struct menuitem));
+	struct menuitem *menuitem = znew(*menuitem);
 	menuitem->parent = menu;
 	menuitem->selectable = false;
 	struct server *server = menu->server;
diff --git a/src/node.c b/src/node.c
index 53a87bca..84ca3f6c 100644
--- a/src/node.c
+++ b/src/node.c
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ void
 node_descriptor_create(struct wlr_scene_node *scene_node,
 		enum node_descriptor_type type, void *data)
 {
-	struct node_descriptor *node_descriptor =
-		xzalloc(sizeof(struct node_descriptor));
+	struct node_descriptor *node_descriptor = znew(*node_descriptor);
 	node_descriptor->type = type;
 	node_descriptor->data = data;
 	node_descriptor->destroy.notify = destroy_notify;
diff --git a/src/output.c b/src/output.c
index f350009e..1ec1c232 100644
--- a/src/output.c
+++ b/src/output.c
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ new_output_notify(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data)
 
 	wlr_output_commit(wlr_output);
 
-	struct output *output = xzalloc(sizeof(struct output));
+	struct output *output = znew(*output);
 	output->wlr_output = wlr_output;
 	wlr_output->data = output;
 	output->server = server;
diff --git a/src/seat.c b/src/seat.c
index 70292259..ddc723ed 100644
--- a/src/seat.c
+++ b/src/seat.c
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ new_input_notify(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data)
 {
 	struct seat *seat = wl_container_of(listener, seat, new_input);
 	struct wlr_input_device *device = data;
-	struct input *input = xzalloc(sizeof(struct input));
+	struct input *input = znew(*input);
 	input->wlr_input_device = device;
 	input->seat = seat;
 
@@ -263,9 +263,7 @@ new_idle_inhibitor(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data)
 	struct seat *seat = wl_container_of(listener, seat,
 		idle_inhibitor_create);
 
-	struct idle_inhibitor *inhibitor =
-		xzalloc(sizeof(struct idle_inhibitor));
-
+	struct idle_inhibitor *inhibitor = znew(*inhibitor);
 	inhibitor->seat = seat;
 	inhibitor->wlr_inhibitor = wlr_inhibitor;
 	inhibitor->destroy.notify = destroy_idle_inhibitor;
diff --git a/src/ssd/ssd_extents.c b/src/ssd/ssd_extents.c
index 28a09162..a6005638 100644
--- a/src/ssd/ssd_extents.c
+++ b/src/ssd/ssd_extents.c
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ add_extent(struct wl_list *part_list, enum ssd_part_type type,
 	 * part->geometry will get free'd automatically in ssd_destroy_parts().
 	 */
 	part->node = &wlr_scene_rect_create(parent, 0, 0, invisible)->node;
-	part->geometry = xzalloc(sizeof(struct wlr_box));
+	part->geometry = znew(struct wlr_box);
 	return part;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ssd/ssd_part.c b/src/ssd/ssd_part.c
index 9a4db0ce..561c02df 100644
--- a/src/ssd/ssd_part.c
+++ b/src/ssd/ssd_part.c
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ static struct ssd_button *
 ssd_button_descriptor_create(struct wlr_scene_node *node)
 {
 	/* Create new ssd_button */
-	struct ssd_button *button = xzalloc(sizeof(struct ssd_button));
+	struct ssd_button *button = znew(*button);
 
 	/* Let it destroy automatically when the scene node destroys */
 	button->destroy.notify = ssd_button_destroy_notify;
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ ssd_button_descriptor_create(struct wlr_scene_node *node)
 struct ssd_part *
 add_scene_part(struct wl_list *part_list, enum ssd_part_type type)
 {
-	struct ssd_part *part = xzalloc(sizeof(struct ssd_part));
+	struct ssd_part *part = znew(*part);
 	part->type = type;
 	wl_list_insert(part_list->prev, &part->link);
 	return part;
diff --git a/src/workspaces.c b/src/workspaces.c
index 38cf81da..87ccc428 100644
--- a/src/workspaces.c
+++ b/src/workspaces.c
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ _osd_update(struct server *server)
 static void
 add_workspace(struct server *server, const char *name)
 {
-	struct workspace *workspace = xzalloc(sizeof(struct workspace));
+	struct workspace *workspace = znew(*workspace);
 	workspace->server = server;
 	workspace->name = xstrdup(name);
 	workspace->tree = wlr_scene_tree_create(server->view_tree);
diff --git a/src/xbm/parse.c b/src/xbm/parse.c
index 1eb722cc..bb457058 100644
--- a/src/xbm/parse.c
+++ b/src/xbm/parse.c
@@ -38,8 +38,7 @@ parse_set_color(float *rgba)
 static void
 process_bytes(struct pixmap *pixmap, struct token *tokens)
 {
-	pixmap->data = (uint32_t *)xzalloc(
-		pixmap->width * pixmap->height * sizeof(uint32_t));
+	pixmap->data = znew_n(uint32_t, pixmap->width * pixmap->height);
 	struct token *t = tokens;
 	for (int row = 0; row < pixmap->height; row++) {
 		int byte = 1;
diff --git a/src/xdg-deco.c b/src/xdg-deco.c
index 0d4eece2..9f4efcb1 100644
--- a/src/xdg-deco.c
+++ b/src/xdg-deco.c
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ xdg_toplevel_decoration(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data)
 	struct server *server =
 		wl_container_of(listener, server, xdg_toplevel_decoration);
 	struct wlr_xdg_toplevel_decoration_v1 *wlr_decoration = data;
-	struct xdg_deco *xdg_deco = xzalloc(sizeof(struct xdg_deco));
+	struct xdg_deco *xdg_deco = znew(*xdg_deco);
 	xdg_deco->wlr_decoration = wlr_decoration;
 	xdg_deco->server = server;
 	xdg_deco->view = wlr_decoration->surface->data;
diff --git a/src/xdg-popup.c b/src/xdg-popup.c
index 3edff404..35e49316 100644
--- a/src/xdg-popup.c
+++ b/src/xdg-popup.c
@@ -68,8 +68,7 @@ xdg_popup_create(struct view *view, struct wlr_xdg_popup *wlr_popup)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	struct xdg_popup *popup = xzalloc(sizeof(struct xdg_popup));
-
+	struct xdg_popup *popup = znew(*popup);
 	popup->parent_view = view;
 	popup->wlr_popup = wlr_popup;
 
diff --git a/src/xdg.c b/src/xdg.c
index 835cdb09..a055ca9b 100644
--- a/src/xdg.c
+++ b/src/xdg.c
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ xdg_surface_new(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data)
 
 	wlr_xdg_surface_ping(xdg_surface);
 
-	struct view *view = xzalloc(sizeof(struct view));
+	struct view *view = znew(*view);
 	view->server = server;
 	view->type = LAB_XDG_SHELL_VIEW;
 	view->impl = &xdg_toplevel_view_impl;
diff --git a/src/xwayland-unmanaged.c b/src/xwayland-unmanaged.c
index b5fb58e4..decc3d65 100644
--- a/src/xwayland-unmanaged.c
+++ b/src/xwayland-unmanaged.c
@@ -140,8 +140,7 @@ struct xwayland_unmanaged *
 xwayland_unmanaged_create(struct server *server,
 			  struct wlr_xwayland_surface *xsurface)
 {
-	struct xwayland_unmanaged *unmanaged =
-		xzalloc(sizeof(struct xwayland_unmanaged));
+	struct xwayland_unmanaged *unmanaged = znew(*unmanaged);
 	unmanaged->server = server;
 	unmanaged->xwayland_surface = xsurface;
 
diff --git a/src/xwayland.c b/src/xwayland.c
index 5b071e60..baa26477 100644
--- a/src/xwayland.c
+++ b/src/xwayland.c
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ xwayland_surface_new(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	struct view *view = xzalloc(sizeof(struct view));
+	struct view *view = znew(*view);
 	view->server = server;
 	view->type = LAB_XWAYLAND_VIEW;
 	view->impl = &xwl_view_impl;