diff --git a/include/proto/connection.h b/include/proto/connection.h
index 7c8e2cb..007f9e2 100644
--- a/include/proto/connection.h
+++ b/include/proto/connection.h
@@ -30,6 +30,16 @@
  */
 int conn_fd_handler(int fd);
 
+/* calls the init() function of the data layer if any. Returns <0 in case of
+ * error.
+ */
+static inline int conn_data_init(struct connection *conn)
+{
+	if (conn->data && conn->data->init)
+		return conn->data->init(conn);
+	return 0;
+}
+
 /* Calls the close() function of the data layer if any */
 static inline void conn_data_close(struct connection *conn)
 {
diff --git a/include/types/connection.h b/include/types/connection.h
index 2fbd779..0e12bb5 100644
--- a/include/types/connection.h
+++ b/include/types/connection.h
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@
 	void (*shutr)(struct connection *, int);    /* shutr function */
 	void (*shutw)(struct connection *, int);    /* shutw function */
 	void (*close)(struct connection *);         /* close the data channel on the connection */
+	int  (*init)(struct connection *conn);      /* initialize the data layer */
 };
 
 /* app_cb describes read and write callbacks which are called upon detected I/O