diff --git a/src/meta/boxes.h b/src/meta/boxes.h
index 7585e1312..40683bb1f 100644
--- a/src/meta/boxes.h
+++ b/src/meta/boxes.h
@@ -54,6 +54,14 @@ typedef struct _MetaRectangle MetaRectangle;
 typedef cairo_rectangle_int_t MetaRectangle;
 #endif
 
+#define META_RECTANGLE_INIT(_x, _y, _width, _height) \
+  (MetaRectangle) { \
+    .x = (_x), \
+    .y = (_y), \
+    .width = (_width), \
+    .height = (_height) \
+  }
+
 /**
  * MetaStrut:
  * @rect: #MetaRectangle the #MetaStrut is on
diff --git a/src/tests/boxes-tests.c b/src/tests/boxes-tests.c
index ea33b5544..8886a294c 100644
--- a/src/tests/boxes-tests.c
+++ b/src/tests/boxes-tests.c
@@ -103,6 +103,18 @@ new_monitor_edge (int x, int y, int width, int height, int side_type)
   return temporary;
 }
 
+static void
+test_init_rect (void)
+{
+  MetaRectangle rect;
+
+  rect = META_RECTANGLE_INIT (1, 2, 3, 4);
+  g_assert_cmpint (rect.x, ==, 1);
+  g_assert_cmpint (rect.y, ==, 2);
+  g_assert_cmpint (rect.width, ==, 3);
+  g_assert_cmpint (rect.height, ==, 4);
+}
+
 static void
 test_area (void)
 {
@@ -1364,6 +1376,7 @@ init_boxes_tests (void)
 {
   init_random_ness ();
 
+  g_test_add_func ("/util/boxes/init", test_init_rect);
   g_test_add_func ("/util/boxes/area", test_area);
   g_test_add_func ("/util/boxes/intersect", test_intersect);
   g_test_add_func ("/util/boxes/equal", test_equal);