diff --git a/src/venus/vkr_common.h b/src/venus/vkr_common.h
index 9137245..2e0736b 100644
--- a/src/venus/vkr_common.h
+++ b/src/venus/vkr_common.h
@@ -334,4 +334,21 @@ vkr_is_recognized_object_type(VkObjectType type)
    }
 }
 
+static inline void *
+vkr_object_alloc(size_t size, VkObjectType type, vkr_object_id id)
+{
+   assert(size >= sizeof(struct vkr_object));
+   assert(vkr_is_recognized_object_type(type));
+
+   struct vkr_object *obj = calloc(1, size);
+   if (!obj)
+      return NULL;
+
+   /* obj is only half-initialized */
+   obj->type = type;
+   obj->id = id;
+
+   return obj;
+}
+
 #endif /* VKR_COMMON_H */
diff --git a/src/venus/vkr_physical_device.c b/src/venus/vkr_physical_device.c
index a9afb3a..a7fb96f 100644
--- a/src/venus/vkr_physical_device.c
+++ b/src/venus/vkr_physical_device.c
@@ -197,14 +197,13 @@ vkr_dispatch_vkEnumeratePhysicalDevices(struct vn_dispatch_context *dispatch,
          continue;
       }
 
-      physical_dev = calloc(1, sizeof(*physical_dev));
+      physical_dev =
+         vkr_object_alloc(sizeof(*physical_dev), VK_OBJECT_TYPE_PHYSICAL_DEVICE, id);
       if (!physical_dev) {
          args->ret = VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_HOST_MEMORY;
          break;
       }
 
-      physical_dev->base.type = VK_OBJECT_TYPE_PHYSICAL_DEVICE;
-      physical_dev->base.id = id;
       physical_dev->base.handle.physical_device = instance->physical_device_handles[i];
 
       vkr_physical_device_init_properties(physical_dev);
diff --git a/src/venus/vkr_queue.c b/src/venus/vkr_queue.c
index 4d7f011..6704d84 100644
--- a/src/venus/vkr_queue.c
+++ b/src/venus/vkr_queue.c
@@ -240,12 +240,11 @@ vkr_queue_create(struct vkr_context *ctx,
    struct vkr_queue *queue;
    int ret;
 
-   queue = calloc(1, sizeof(*queue));
+   /* id is set to 0 until vkr_queue_assign_object_id */
+   queue = vkr_object_alloc(sizeof(*queue), VK_OBJECT_TYPE_QUEUE, 0);
    if (!queue)
       return NULL;
 
-   queue->base.type = VK_OBJECT_TYPE_QUEUE;
-   /* queue->base.id is not assigned until vkr_queue_assign_object_id */
    queue->base.handle.queue = handle;
 
    queue->context = ctx;