diff --git a/daemon/codec.c b/daemon/codec.c
index 302d0853f..c7e8e27cd 100644
--- a/daemon/codec.c
+++ b/daemon/codec.c
@@ -2300,7 +2300,7 @@ static tc_code packet_dtmf(struct codec_ssrc_handler *ch, struct codec_ssrc_hand
 
 		// provide an uninitialised buffer as potential output storage for DTMF
 		char buf[sizeof(struct telephone_event_payload)];
-		str ev_pl = STR_INIT_LEN(buf, sizeof(buf));
+		str ev_pl = STR_LEN(buf, sizeof(buf));
 
 		int is_dtmf = dtmf_event_payload(&ev_pl, &ts, duration,
 				&input_ch->dtmf_event, &input_ch->dtmf_events);
@@ -4006,7 +4006,7 @@ void packet_encoded_packetize(AVPacket *pkt, struct codec_ssrc_handler *ch, stru
 		char *buf = bufferpool_alloc(media_bufferpool, pkt_len);
 		char *payload = buf + sizeof(struct rtp_header);
 		// tell our packetizer how much we want
-		str inout = STR_INIT_LEN(payload, payload_len);
+		str inout = STR_LEN(payload, payload_len);
 		// and request a packet
 		if (in_pkt)
 			ilogs(transcoding, LOG_DEBUG, "Adding %i bytes to packetizer", in_pkt->size);
diff --git a/daemon/crypto.c b/daemon/crypto.c
index 5f8ad32b0..38945c58e 100644
--- a/daemon/crypto.c
+++ b/daemon/crypto.c
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ static void prf_n(str *out, const unsigned char *key, const EVP_CIPHER *ciph, co
 	memcpy(iv, x, 14);
 	/* iv[14] = iv[15] = 0;   := x << 16 */
 	ZERO(in); /* outputs the key stream */
-	str_init_len(&in_s, (void *) in, out->len > 16 ? 32 : 16);
+	in_s = STR_LEN(in, out->len > 16 ? 32 : 16);
 	aes_ctr_no_ctx(o, &in_s, key, ciph, iv);
 
 	memcpy(out->s, o, out->len);
diff --git a/daemon/ice.c b/daemon/ice.c
index 87a07cd79..f053bc4fe 100644
--- a/daemon/ice.c
+++ b/daemon/ice.c
@@ -1555,7 +1555,7 @@ static void create_random_ice_string(call_t *call, str *s, int len) {
 }
 
 void ice_foundation(str *s) {
-	str_init_len(s, malloc(ICE_FOUNDATION_LENGTH), ICE_FOUNDATION_LENGTH);
+	*s = STR_LEN(malloc(ICE_FOUNDATION_LENGTH), ICE_FOUNDATION_LENGTH);
 	random_ice_string(s->s, ICE_FOUNDATION_LENGTH);
 }
 
diff --git a/daemon/jitter_buffer.c b/daemon/jitter_buffer.c
index a1ad6a3bc..a6eae8b02 100644
--- a/daemon/jitter_buffer.c
+++ b/daemon/jitter_buffer.c
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ static struct jb_packet* get_jb_packet(struct media_packet *mp, const str *s) {
 	p->buf = buf;
 	media_packet_copy(&p->mp, mp);
 
-	str_init_len(&p->mp.raw, buf + RTP_BUFFER_HEAD_ROOM, s->len);
+	p->mp.raw = STR_LEN(buf + RTP_BUFFER_HEAD_ROOM, s->len);
 	memcpy(p->mp.raw.s, s->s, s->len);
 
 	return p;
diff --git a/daemon/media_player.c b/daemon/media_player.c
index a6b745dc4..6e6c3982e 100644
--- a/daemon/media_player.c
+++ b/daemon/media_player.c
@@ -692,7 +692,7 @@ static void media_player_cache_packet(struct media_player_cache_entry *entry, ch
 		.rtp = &rtp,
 		.cache_entry = entry,
 	};
-	str_init_len(&packet.raw, buf, len);
+	packet.raw = STR_LEN(buf, len);
 	packet.payload = packet.raw;
 
 	entry->coder.handler->handler_func(entry->coder.handler, &packet);
@@ -946,7 +946,7 @@ void media_player_add_packet(struct media_player *mp, char *buf, size_t len,
 		.rtp = &rtp,
 		.ssrc_out = mp->ssrc_out,
 	};
-	str_init_len(&packet.raw, buf, len);
+	packet.raw = STR_LEN(buf, len);
 	packet.payload = packet.raw;
 
 	mp->coder.handler->handler_func(mp->coder.handler, &packet);
@@ -1362,7 +1362,7 @@ success:;
 		goto err;
 	}
 
-	str blob = STR_INIT_LEN(row[0], lengths[0]);
+	str blob = STR_LEN(row[0], lengths[0]);
 	mp_cached_code ret = __media_player_init_blob_id(mp, &blob, opts, id, dst_pt);
 
 	mysql_free_result(res);
diff --git a/daemon/media_socket.c b/daemon/media_socket.c
index 9191d16c1..daa9075f6 100644
--- a/daemon/media_socket.c
+++ b/daemon/media_socket.c
@@ -3049,7 +3049,7 @@ restart:
 		if (ret >= MAX_RTP_PACKET_SIZE)
 			ilog(LOG_WARNING | LOG_FLAG_LIMIT, "UDP packet possibly truncated");
 
-		str_init_len(&phc.s, buf + RTP_BUFFER_HEAD_ROOM, ret);
+		phc.s = STR_LEN(buf + RTP_BUFFER_HEAD_ROOM, ret);
 
 		__stream_fd_readable(&phc);
 
@@ -3095,7 +3095,7 @@ static void stream_fd_recv(struct obj *obj, char *buf, size_t len, struct sockad
 	ZERO(phc);
 	phc.mp.sfd = sfd;
 	sfd->socket.family->sockaddr2endpoint(&phc.mp.fsin, sa);
-	str_init_len(&phc.s, buf, len);
+	phc.s = STR_LEN(buf, len);
 
 	__stream_fd_readable(&phc);
 
diff --git a/daemon/redis.c b/daemon/redis.c
index 684cfdadb..bbba6cfc7 100644
--- a/daemon/redis.c
+++ b/daemon/redis.c
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ void on_redis_notification(redisAsyncContext *actx, void *reply, void *privdata)
 		goto err;
 
 	// format: __keyspace@<db>__:<key>
-	str_init_len(&keyspace_id, rr->element[2]->str, rr->element[2]->len);
+	keyspace_id = STR_LEN(rr->element[2]->str, rr->element[2]->len);
 
 	if (str_shift_cmp(&keyspace_id, "__keyspace@"))
 		goto err;
@@ -2215,7 +2215,7 @@ static void restore_thread(void *call_p, void *ctx_p) {
 	struct thread_ctx *ctx = ctx_p;
 	redisReply *call = call_p;
 	struct redis *r;
-	str callid = STR_INIT_LEN(call->str, call->len);
+	str callid = STR_LEN(call->str, call->len);
 
 	rlog(LOG_DEBUG, "Processing call ID '%s%.*s%s' from Redis", FMT_M(REDIS_FMT(call)));
 
diff --git a/daemon/rtcp.c b/daemon/rtcp.c
index d223a0e36..43da24bd3 100644
--- a/daemon/rtcp.c
+++ b/daemon/rtcp.c
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ static int rtcp_rr(struct rtcp_chain_element *el, struct rtcp_process_ctx *log_c
 static int rtcp_sdes(struct rtcp_chain_element *el, struct rtcp_process_ctx *log_ctx) {
 	CAH(sdes_list_start, el->sdes);
 
-	str comp_s = STR_INIT_LEN(el->sdes->chunks, el->len - sizeof(el->sdes->header));
+	str comp_s = STR_LEN(el->sdes->chunks, el->len - sizeof(el->sdes->header));
 	int i = 0;
 	while (1) {
 		struct sdes_chunk *sdes_chunk = (struct sdes_chunk *) comp_s.s;
@@ -614,7 +614,7 @@ static void xr_voip_metrics(struct xr_rb_voip_metrics *rb, struct rtcp_process_c
 
 static int rtcp_xr(struct rtcp_chain_element *el, struct rtcp_process_ctx *log_ctx) {
 	CAH(common, el->rtcp_packet);
-	str comp_s = STR_INIT_LEN(el->buf + sizeof(el->xr->rtcp), el->len - sizeof(el->xr->rtcp));
+	str comp_s = STR_LEN(el->buf + sizeof(el->xr->rtcp), el->len - sizeof(el->xr->rtcp));
 	while (1) {
 		struct xr_report_block *rb = (void *) comp_s.s;
 		if (comp_s.len < sizeof(*rb))
@@ -1603,7 +1603,7 @@ void rtcp_send_report(struct call_media *media, struct ssrc_ctx *ssrc_out) {
 
 	if (crypt_handler && crypt_handler->out->rtcp_crypt) {
 		g_string_set_size(sr, sr->len + RTP_BUFFER_TAIL_ROOM);
-		rtcp_packet = STR_INIT_LEN(sr->str, sr->len - RTP_BUFFER_TAIL_ROOM);
+		rtcp_packet = STR_LEN(sr->str, sr->len - RTP_BUFFER_TAIL_ROOM);
 		crypt_handler->out->rtcp_crypt(&rtcp_packet, ps, ssrc_out);
 	}
 
diff --git a/daemon/rtp.c b/daemon/rtp.c
index c3ae8f5bd..c2fc9d3c1 100644
--- a/daemon/rtp.c
+++ b/daemon/rtp.c
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ int srtp_payloads(str *to_auth, str *to_decrypt, str *auth_tag, str *mki,
 		if (to_decrypt->len < auth_len)
 			goto error;
 
-		str_init_len(auth_tag, to_decrypt->s + to_decrypt->len - auth_len, auth_len);
+		*auth_tag = STR_LEN(to_decrypt->s + to_decrypt->len - auth_len, auth_len);
 		to_decrypt->len -= auth_len;
 		to_auth->len -= auth_len;
 	}
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ int srtp_payloads(str *to_auth, str *to_decrypt, str *auth_tag, str *mki,
 			goto error;
 
 		if (mki)
-			str_init_len(mki, to_decrypt->s - mki_len, mki_len);
+			*mki = STR_LEN(to_decrypt->s - mki_len, mki_len);
 		to_decrypt->len -= mki_len;
 		to_auth->len -= mki_len;
 	}
diff --git a/daemon/sdp.c b/daemon/sdp.c
index 54cc8e2f8..ba32b4fae 100644
--- a/daemon/sdp.c
+++ b/daemon/sdp.c
@@ -1282,7 +1282,7 @@ int sdp_parse(str *body, sdp_sessions_q *sessions, const sdp_ng_flags *flags) {
 				goto new_session; // allowed for trickle ICE SDP fragments
 		}
 
-		str value_str = STR_INIT_LEN(value, line_end - value);
+		str value_str = STR_LEN(value, line_end - value);
 
 		switch (b[0]) {
 			case 'v':
@@ -2382,7 +2382,7 @@ void sdp_chopper_destroy_ret(struct sdp_chopper *chop, str *ret) {
 	if (chop->output) {
 		size_t len = chop->output->len;
 		char *s = g_string_free(chop->output, FALSE);
-		str_init_len(ret, s, len);
+		*ret = STR_LEN(s, len);
 		chop->output = NULL;
 	}
 	sdp_chopper_destroy(chop);
@@ -2993,7 +2993,7 @@ static void generic_append_attr_to_gstring(GString *s, const str * attr, char se
 			g_string_append_len(s, value->s, value->len);
 
 			// check if the complete attribute string is marked for removal ...
-			str complete = STR_INIT_LEN(s->str + attr_start, s->len - attr_start);
+			str complete = STR_LEN(s->str + attr_start, s->len - attr_start);
 			if (sdp_manipulate_remove(sdp_manipulations, &complete))
 			{
 				// rewind and bail
diff --git a/daemon/t38.c b/daemon/t38.c
index f723b19a0..7edf25e81 100644
--- a/daemon/t38.c
+++ b/daemon/t38.c
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ static int t38_gateway_handler(t38_core_state_t *stat, void *user_data, const ui
 	g_string_append_len(s, (void *) &seq, 2);
 
 	// add primary IFP packet
-	str buf = STR_INIT_LEN(b, len);
+	str buf = STR_LEN(b, len);
 	__add_udptl(s, &buf);
 
 	// add error correction packets
diff --git a/daemon/websocket.c b/daemon/websocket.c
index 9d98c7de7..01fc9a944 100644
--- a/daemon/websocket.c
+++ b/daemon/websocket.c
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ static const char *websocket_http_cli(struct websocket_message *wm) {
 static const char *websocket_cli_process(struct websocket_message *wm) {
 	ilogs(http, LOG_DEBUG, "Processing websocket CLI req '%s'", wm->body->str);
 
-	str uri_cmd = STR_INIT_LEN(wm->body->str, wm->body->len);
+	str uri_cmd = STR_LEN(wm->body->str, wm->body->len);
 
 	struct cli_writer cw = {
 		.cw_printf = websocket_queue_printf,
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@ static const char *websocket_ng_process_generic(struct websocket_message *wm,
 	// steal body and initialise
 	buf->body = wm->body;
 	wm->body = g_string_new("");
-	str_init_len(&buf->cmd, buf->body->str, buf->body->len);
+	buf->cmd = STR_LEN(buf->body->str, buf->body->len);
 	buf->endpoint = wm->wc->endpoint;
 
 	cb(&buf->cmd, &buf->endpoint, buf->addr, NULL, websocket_ng_send_ws, wm->wc, &buf->obj);
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ static const char *websocket_http_ng_generic(struct websocket_message *wm,
 	// steal body and initialise
 	buf->body = wm->body;
 	wm->body = g_string_new("");
-	str_init_len(&buf->cmd, buf->body->str, buf->body->len);
+	buf->cmd = STR_LEN(buf->body->str, buf->body->len);
 	buf->endpoint = wm->wc->endpoint;
 
 	if (cb(&buf->cmd, &buf->endpoint, buf->addr, NULL, websocket_ng_send_http, wm->wc,
diff --git a/lib/str.h b/lib/str.h
index c563be8ea..3eb161bc3 100644
--- a/lib/str.h
+++ b/lib/str.h
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ TYPED_GQUEUE(str, str)
 #define STR_CONST_INIT(s) ((str) { s, sizeof(s)-1 })
 #define STR(s) ((str) { (char *) (s), (s) ? strlen(s) : 0 })
 #define STR_INIT_GS(s) ((str) { (s)->str, (s)->len })
-#define STR_INIT_LEN(s, len) ((str) { (char *) (s), len })
+#define STR_LEN(s, len) ((str) { (char *) (s), len })
 #define STR_INIT_DUP(s) ((str) { g_strdup(s), strlen(s) })
 #define STR_CONST_INIT_BUF(buf) ((str) { (char *) &buf, sizeof(buf) })
 
@@ -83,9 +83,6 @@ ACCESS(read_only, 2)
 INLINE int str_cmp_str0(const str *a, const str *b);
 /* inits a str object from any binary string. returns out */
 __attribute__((nonnull(1, 2)))
-ACCESS(write_only, 1)
-INLINE str *str_init_len(str *out, char *s, size_t len);
-__attribute__((nonnull(1, 2)))
 INLINE str *str_init_len_assert_len(str *out, char *s, size_t buflen, size_t len);
 #define str_init_len_assert(out, s, len) str_init_len_assert_len(out, s, sizeof(s), len)
 /* inits a str object from a regular string and duplicates the contents. returns out */
@@ -216,7 +213,7 @@ INLINE int str_shift_ret(str *s, size_t len, str *ret) {
 	if (s->len < len)
 		return -1;
 	if (ret)
-		str_init_len(ret, s->s, len);
+		*ret = STR_LEN(s->s, len);
 	s->s += len;
 	s->len -= len;
 	return 0;
@@ -301,14 +298,10 @@ INLINE int str_cmp_str0(const str *a, const str *b) {
 	}
 	return str_cmp_str(a, b);
 }
-INLINE str *str_init_len(str *out, char *s, size_t len) {
-	out->s = s;
-	out->len = len;
-	return out;
-}
 INLINE str *str_init_len_assert_len(str *out, char *s, size_t buflen, size_t len) {
 	assert(buflen >= len);
-	return str_init_len(out, s, len);
+	*out = STR_LEN(s, len);
+	return out;
 }
 INLINE str *str_init_dup(str *out, const char *s) {
 	out->s = s ? g_strdup(s) : NULL;
diff --git a/perf-tester/main.c b/perf-tester/main.c
index bc91300fd..1aa1ebfb8 100644
--- a/perf-tester/main.c
+++ b/perf-tester/main.c
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ static void readable(int fd, void *o) {
 				s->fixture_idx = 0;
 
 			str frame;
-			str_init_len(&frame, (char *) data->data, data->size);
+			frame = STR_LEN(data->data, data->size);
 
 			if (!s->chain)
 				decoder_input_data(s->decoder, &frame, s->input_ts, got_frame, s, NULL);
diff --git a/recording-daemon/decoder.c b/recording-daemon/decoder.c
index 56e431567..0a0632c93 100644
--- a/recording-daemon/decoder.c
+++ b/recording-daemon/decoder.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ decode_t *decoder_new(const char *payload_str, const char *format, int ptime, ou
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
-	str name = STR_INIT_LEN(payload_str, slash - payload_str);
+	str name = STR_LEN(payload_str, slash - payload_str);
 	int clockrate = atoi(slash + 1);
 	if (clockrate <= 0) {
 		ilog(LOG_ERR, "Invalid clock rate %i (parsed from '%.20s'/'%.20s')",
diff --git a/recording-daemon/output.c b/recording-daemon/output.c
index 0c626bc44..ec594e891 100644
--- a/recording-daemon/output.c
+++ b/recording-daemon/output.c
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ static output_t *output_new(const char *path, const metafile_t *mf, const char *
 					ilog(LOG_ERR, "Missing ending brace '}' in file name pattern");
 					break;
 				}
-				str fmt = STR_INIT_LEN((char *) p, end - p);
+				str fmt = STR_LEN((char *) p, end - p);
 				p = end; // skip over {...}
 				output_append_str_from_ht(f, mf->metadata_parsed, &fmt);
 				break;
diff --git a/recording-daemon/packet.c b/recording-daemon/packet.c
index 920bff2c2..7a8e4f12e 100644
--- a/recording-daemon/packet.c
+++ b/recording-daemon/packet.c
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ void packet_process(stream_t *stream, unsigned char *buf, unsigned len) {
 	packet->buffer = buf; // handing it over
 
 	// XXX more checking here
-	str bufstr = STR_INIT_LEN(packet->buffer, len);
+	str bufstr = STR_LEN(packet->buffer, len);
 	packet->ip = (void *) bufstr.s;
 	// XXX kernel already does this - add metadata?
 	if (packet->ip->version == 4) {
diff --git a/t/test-bitstr.c b/t/test-bitstr.c
index d3fecc97f..9ea5ba855 100644
--- a/t/test-bitstr.c
+++ b/t/test-bitstr.c
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ int do_test(const char *input, unsigned int input_len,
 {
 	char in_buf[input_len];
 	memcpy(in_buf, input, input_len);
-	str inp = STR_INIT_LEN(in_buf, input_len);
+	str inp = STR_LEN(in_buf, input_len);
 	bitstr inp_bs;
 	bitstr_init(&inp_bs, &inp);
 
diff --git a/t/test-transcode.c b/t/test-transcode.c
index 4e8bf7932..075c8eac3 100644
--- a/t/test-transcode.c
+++ b/t/test-transcode.c
@@ -1369,7 +1369,7 @@ int main(void) {
 
 	// CN transcoding
 	rtpe_config.silence_detect_int = 10 << 16;
-	str_init_len(&rtpe_config.cn_payload, "\x40", 1);
+	rtpe_config.cn_payload = STR_LEN("\x40", 1);
 	// CN transcoding - forward
 	start();
 	sdp_pt(8, PCMA, 8000);