--- tools/build/v2/engine/lists.c
+++ tools/build/v2/engine/lists.c
@@ -103,18 +103,7 @@ LISTITER list_end( LIST * l )
 
 LIST * list_new( OBJECT * value )
 {
-    LIST * head;
-    if ( freelist[ 0 ] )
-    {
-        struct freelist_node * result = freelist[ 0 ];
-        freelist[ 0 ] = result->next;
-        head = (LIST *)result;
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        head = BJAM_MALLOC( sizeof( LIST * ) + sizeof( OBJECT * ) );
-    }
-
+    LIST * head = list_alloc( 1 );
     head->impl.size = 1;
     list_begin( head )[ 0 ] = value;