diff --git a/lib/librte_acl/rte_acl.c b/lib/librte_acl/rte_acl.c
index 7d10301..b6ddeeb 100644
--- a/lib/librte_acl/rte_acl.c
+++ b/lib/librte_acl/rte_acl.c
@@ -38,6 +38,11 @@
 
 TAILQ_HEAD(rte_acl_list, rte_tailq_entry);
 
+static struct rte_tailq_elem rte_acl_tailq = {
+	.name = "RTE_ACL",
+};
+EAL_REGISTER_TAILQ(rte_acl_tailq)
+
 /*
  * If the compiler doesn't support AVX2 instructions,
  * then the dummy one would be used instead for AVX2 classify method.
@@ -129,12 +134,7 @@ rte_acl_find_existing(const char *name)
 	struct rte_acl_list *acl_list;
 	struct rte_tailq_entry *te;
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	acl_list = RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_ACL, rte_acl_list);
-	if (acl_list == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return NULL;
-	}
+	acl_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_acl_tailq.head, rte_acl_list);
 
 	rte_rwlock_read_lock(RTE_EAL_TAILQ_RWLOCK);
 	TAILQ_FOREACH(te, acl_list, next) {
@@ -160,12 +160,7 @@ rte_acl_free(struct rte_acl_ctx *ctx)
 	if (ctx == NULL)
 		return;
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	acl_list = RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_ACL, rte_acl_list);
-	if (acl_list == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return;
-	}
+	acl_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_acl_tailq.head, rte_acl_list);
 
 	rte_rwlock_write_lock(RTE_EAL_TAILQ_RWLOCK);
 
@@ -197,12 +192,7 @@ rte_acl_create(const struct rte_acl_param *param)
 	struct rte_tailq_entry *te;
 	char name[sizeof(ctx->name)];
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	acl_list = RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_ACL, rte_acl_list);
-	if (acl_list == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return NULL;
-	}
+	acl_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_acl_tailq.head, rte_acl_list);
 
 	/* check that input parameters are valid. */
 	if (param == NULL || param->name == NULL) {
@@ -365,12 +355,7 @@ rte_acl_list_dump(void)
 	struct rte_acl_list *acl_list;
 	struct rte_tailq_entry *te;
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	acl_list = RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_ACL, rte_acl_list);
-	if (acl_list == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return;
-	}
+	acl_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_acl_tailq.head, rte_acl_list);
 
 	rte_rwlock_read_lock(RTE_EAL_TAILQ_RWLOCK);
 	TAILQ_FOREACH(te, acl_list, next) {
diff --git a/lib/librte_acl/rte_acl.h b/lib/librte_acl/rte_acl.h
index 30aea03..3a93730 100644
--- a/lib/librte_acl/rte_acl.h
+++ b/lib/librte_acl/rte_acl.h
@@ -170,7 +170,6 @@ struct rte_acl_param {
  *   Pointer to ACL context structure that is used in future ACL
  *   operations, or NULL on error, with error code set in rte_errno.
  *   Possible rte_errno errors include:
- *   - E_RTE_NO_TAILQ - no tailq list could be got for the ACL context list
  *   - EINVAL - invalid parameter passed to function
  */
 struct rte_acl_ctx *
diff --git a/lib/librte_distributor/rte_distributor.c b/lib/librte_distributor/rte_distributor.c
index 84e78bb..f3f778c 100644
--- a/lib/librte_distributor/rte_distributor.c
+++ b/lib/librte_distributor/rte_distributor.c
@@ -115,6 +115,11 @@ struct rte_distributor {
 
 TAILQ_HEAD(rte_distributor_list, rte_distributor);
 
+static struct rte_tailq_elem rte_distributor_tailq = {
+	.name = "RTE_DISTRIBUTOR",
+};
+EAL_REGISTER_TAILQ(rte_distributor_tailq)
+
 /**** APIs called by workers ****/
 
 void
@@ -460,14 +465,6 @@ rte_distributor_create(const char *name,
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	distributor_list = RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_DISTRIBUTOR,
-				rte_distributor_list);
-	if (distributor_list == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return NULL;
-	}
-
 	snprintf(mz_name, sizeof(mz_name), RTE_DISTRIB_PREFIX"%s", name);
 	mz = rte_memzone_reserve(mz_name, sizeof(*d), socket_id, NO_FLAGS);
 	if (mz == NULL) {
@@ -479,6 +476,9 @@ rte_distributor_create(const char *name,
 	snprintf(d->name, sizeof(d->name), "%s", name);
 	d->num_workers = num_workers;
 
+	distributor_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_distributor_tailq.head,
+					  rte_distributor_list);
+
 	rte_rwlock_write_lock(RTE_EAL_TAILQ_RWLOCK);
 	TAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(distributor_list, d, next);
 	rte_rwlock_write_unlock(RTE_EAL_TAILQ_RWLOCK);
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/bsdapp/eal/eal_pci.c b/lib/librte_eal/bsdapp/eal/eal_pci.c
index 5457a21..3a0fda5 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/bsdapp/eal/eal_pci.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/bsdapp/eal/eal_pci.c
@@ -107,6 +107,11 @@ TAILQ_HEAD(uio_res_list, uio_resource);
 
 static struct uio_res_list *uio_res_list = NULL;
 
+static struct rte_tailq_elem rte_pci_tailq = {
+	.name = "PCI_RESOURCE_LIST",
+};
+EAL_REGISTER_TAILQ(rte_pci_tailq)
+
 /* unbind kernel driver for this device */
 static int
 pci_unbind_kernel_driver(struct rte_pci_device *dev __rte_unused)
@@ -492,7 +497,7 @@ rte_eal_pci_init(void)
 {
 	TAILQ_INIT(&pci_driver_list);
 	TAILQ_INIT(&pci_device_list);
-	uio_res_list = RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_PCI, uio_res_list);
+	uio_res_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_pci_tailq.head, uio_res_list);
 
 	/* for debug purposes, PCI can be disabled */
 	if (internal_config.no_pci)
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_tailq_elem.h b/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_tailq_elem.h
index 01fc769..e88211c 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_tailq_elem.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_tailq_elem.h
@@ -64,26 +64,6 @@
 #define rte_tailq_end(idx)
 #endif /* rte_tailq_end */
 
-rte_tailq_elem(RTE_TAILQ_PCI, "PCI_RESOURCE_LIST")
-
-rte_tailq_elem(RTE_TAILQ_MEMPOOL, "RTE_MEMPOOL")
-
-rte_tailq_elem(RTE_TAILQ_RING, "RTE_RING")
-
-rte_tailq_elem(RTE_TAILQ_HASH, "RTE_HASH")
-
-rte_tailq_elem(RTE_TAILQ_FBK_HASH, "RTE_FBK_HASH")
-
-rte_tailq_elem(RTE_TAILQ_LPM, "RTE_LPM")
-
-rte_tailq_elem(RTE_TAILQ_LPM6, "RTE_LPM6")
-
-rte_tailq_elem(RTE_TAILQ_ACL, "RTE_ACL")
-
-rte_tailq_elem(RTE_TAILQ_DISTRIBUTOR, "RTE_DISTRIBUTOR")
-
-rte_tailq_elem(RTE_TAILQ_REORDER, "RTE_REORDER")
-
 rte_tailq_end(RTE_TAILQ_NUM)
 
 #undef rte_tailq_elem
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/linuxapp/eal/eal_ivshmem.c b/lib/librte_eal/linuxapp/eal/eal_ivshmem.c
index 413a9ba..2deaeb7 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/linuxapp/eal/eal_ivshmem.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/linuxapp/eal/eal_ivshmem.c
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@
 #include <rte_malloc.h>
 #include <rte_common.h>
 #include <rte_ivshmem.h>
-#include <rte_tailq_elem.h>
 
 #include "eal_internal_cfg.h"
 #include "eal_private.h"
@@ -764,8 +763,8 @@ rte_eal_ivshmem_obj_init(void)
 		return 0;
 
 	/* check that we have an initialised ring tail queue */
-	if ((ring_list =
-	     RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_RING, rte_ring_list)) == NULL) {
+	ring_list = RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP(RTE_TAILQ_RING_NAME, rte_ring_list);
+	if (ring_list == NULL) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, EAL, "No rte_ring tailq found!\n");
 		return -1;
 	}
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/linuxapp/eal/eal_pci.c b/lib/librte_eal/linuxapp/eal/eal_pci.c
index 595f17b..c42e843 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/linuxapp/eal/eal_pci.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/linuxapp/eal/eal_pci.c
@@ -58,6 +58,11 @@
 
 struct mapped_pci_res_list *pci_res_list = NULL;
 
+static struct rte_tailq_elem rte_pci_tailq = {
+	.name = "PCI_RESOURCE_LIST",
+};
+EAL_REGISTER_TAILQ(rte_pci_tailq)
+
 /* unbind kernel driver for this device */
 static int
 pci_unbind_kernel_driver(struct rte_pci_device *dev)
@@ -765,8 +770,7 @@ rte_eal_pci_init(void)
 {
 	TAILQ_INIT(&pci_driver_list);
 	TAILQ_INIT(&pci_device_list);
-	pci_res_list = RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_PCI,
-					       mapped_pci_res_list);
+	pci_res_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_pci_tailq.head, mapped_pci_res_list);
 
 	/* for debug purposes, PCI can be disabled */
 	if (internal_config.no_pci)
diff --git a/lib/librte_hash/rte_fbk_hash.c b/lib/librte_hash/rte_fbk_hash.c
index c342c0d..356ddfe 100644
--- a/lib/librte_hash/rte_fbk_hash.c
+++ b/lib/librte_hash/rte_fbk_hash.c
@@ -55,6 +55,11 @@
 
 TAILQ_HEAD(rte_fbk_hash_list, rte_tailq_entry);
 
+static struct rte_tailq_elem rte_fbk_hash_tailq = {
+	.name = "RTE_FBK_HASH",
+};
+EAL_REGISTER_TAILQ(rte_fbk_hash_tailq)
+
 /**
  * Performs a lookup for an existing hash table, and returns a pointer to
  * the table if found.
@@ -72,13 +77,8 @@ rte_fbk_hash_find_existing(const char *name)
 	struct rte_tailq_entry *te;
 	struct rte_fbk_hash_list *fbk_hash_list;
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	if ((fbk_hash_list =
-			RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_FBK_HASH,
-					rte_fbk_hash_list)) == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return NULL;
-	}
+	fbk_hash_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_fbk_hash_tailq.head,
+				       rte_fbk_hash_list);
 
 	rte_rwlock_read_lock(RTE_EAL_TAILQ_RWLOCK);
 	TAILQ_FOREACH(te, fbk_hash_list, next) {
@@ -115,13 +115,8 @@ rte_fbk_hash_create(const struct rte_fbk_hash_params *params)
 	uint32_t i;
 	struct rte_fbk_hash_list *fbk_hash_list;
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	if ((fbk_hash_list =
-			RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_FBK_HASH,
-					rte_fbk_hash_list)) == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return NULL;
-	}
+	fbk_hash_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_fbk_hash_tailq.head,
+				       rte_fbk_hash_list);
 
 	/* Error checking of parameters. */
 	if ((!rte_is_power_of_2(params->entries)) ||
@@ -208,13 +203,8 @@ rte_fbk_hash_free(struct rte_fbk_hash_table *ht)
 	if (ht == NULL)
 		return;
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	if ((fbk_hash_list =
-			RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_FBK_HASH,
-					rte_fbk_hash_list)) == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return;
-	}
+	fbk_hash_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_fbk_hash_tailq.head,
+				       rte_fbk_hash_list);
 
 	rte_rwlock_write_lock(RTE_EAL_TAILQ_RWLOCK);
 
diff --git a/lib/librte_hash/rte_fbk_hash.h b/lib/librte_hash/rte_fbk_hash.h
index 3d229bf..c9b5a6a 100644
--- a/lib/librte_hash/rte_fbk_hash.h
+++ b/lib/librte_hash/rte_fbk_hash.h
@@ -372,7 +372,6 @@ struct rte_fbk_hash_table *rte_fbk_hash_find_existing(const char *name);
  *   Possible rte_errno error values include:
  *    - E_RTE_NO_CONFIG - function could not get pointer to rte_config structure
  *    - E_RTE_SECONDARY - function was called from a secondary process instance
- *    - E_RTE_NO_TAILQ - no tailq list could be got for the fbk hash table list
  *    - EINVAL - invalid parameter value passed to function
  *    - ENOSPC - the maximum number of memzones has already been allocated
  *    - EEXIST - a memzone with the same name already exists
diff --git a/lib/librte_hash/rte_hash.c b/lib/librte_hash/rte_hash.c
index b6a2b2f..9245716 100644
--- a/lib/librte_hash/rte_hash.c
+++ b/lib/librte_hash/rte_hash.c
@@ -58,9 +58,13 @@
 
 #include "rte_hash.h"
 
-
 TAILQ_HEAD(rte_hash_list, rte_tailq_entry);
 
+static struct rte_tailq_elem rte_hash_tailq = {
+	.name = "RTE_HASH",
+};
+EAL_REGISTER_TAILQ(rte_hash_tailq)
+
 /* Macro to enable/disable run-time checking of function parameters */
 #if defined(RTE_LIBRTE_HASH_DEBUG)
 #define RETURN_IF_TRUE(cond, retval) do { \
@@ -144,12 +148,7 @@ rte_hash_find_existing(const char *name)
 	struct rte_tailq_entry *te;
 	struct rte_hash_list *hash_list;
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	if ((hash_list =
-			RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_HASH, rte_hash_list)) == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return NULL;
-	}
+	hash_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_hash_tailq.head, rte_hash_list);
 
 	rte_rwlock_read_lock(RTE_EAL_TAILQ_RWLOCK);
 	TAILQ_FOREACH(te, hash_list, next) {
@@ -176,12 +175,7 @@ rte_hash_create(const struct rte_hash_parameters *params)
 	char hash_name[RTE_HASH_NAMESIZE];
 	struct rte_hash_list *hash_list;
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	if ((hash_list =
-	     RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_HASH, rte_hash_list)) == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return NULL;
-	}
+	hash_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_hash_tailq.head, rte_hash_list);
 
 	/* Check for valid parameters */
 	if ((params == NULL) ||
@@ -274,12 +268,7 @@ rte_hash_free(struct rte_hash *h)
 	if (h == NULL)
 		return;
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	if ((hash_list =
-	     RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_HASH, rte_hash_list)) == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return;
-	}
+	hash_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_hash_tailq.head, rte_hash_list);
 
 	rte_rwlock_write_lock(RTE_EAL_TAILQ_RWLOCK);
 
diff --git a/lib/librte_hash/rte_hash.h b/lib/librte_hash/rte_hash.h
index 2ecaf1a..821a9d4 100644
--- a/lib/librte_hash/rte_hash.h
+++ b/lib/librte_hash/rte_hash.h
@@ -117,7 +117,6 @@ struct rte_hash {
  *   Possible rte_errno errors include:
  *    - E_RTE_NO_CONFIG - function could not get pointer to rte_config structure
  *    - E_RTE_SECONDARY - function was called from a secondary process instance
- *    - E_RTE_NO_TAILQ - no tailq list could be got for the hash table list
  *    - ENOENT - missing entry
  *    - EINVAL - invalid parameter passed to function
  *    - ENOSPC - the maximum number of memzones has already been allocated
diff --git a/lib/librte_lpm/rte_lpm.c b/lib/librte_lpm/rte_lpm.c
index 264cde8..0945b81 100644
--- a/lib/librte_lpm/rte_lpm.c
+++ b/lib/librte_lpm/rte_lpm.c
@@ -57,6 +57,11 @@
 
 TAILQ_HEAD(rte_lpm_list, rte_tailq_entry);
 
+static struct rte_tailq_elem rte_lpm_tailq = {
+	.name = "RTE_LPM",
+};
+EAL_REGISTER_TAILQ(rte_lpm_tailq)
+
 #define MAX_DEPTH_TBL24 24
 
 enum valid_flag {
@@ -121,12 +126,7 @@ rte_lpm_find_existing(const char *name)
 	struct rte_tailq_entry *te;
 	struct rte_lpm_list *lpm_list;
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	if ((lpm_list = RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_LPM,
-			rte_lpm_list)) == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return NULL;
-	}
+	lpm_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_lpm_tailq.head, rte_lpm_list);
 
 	rte_rwlock_read_lock(RTE_EAL_TAILQ_RWLOCK);
 	TAILQ_FOREACH(te, lpm_list, next) {
@@ -157,12 +157,7 @@ rte_lpm_create(const char *name, int socket_id, int max_rules,
 	uint32_t mem_size;
 	struct rte_lpm_list *lpm_list;
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	if ((lpm_list = RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_LPM,
-			rte_lpm_list)) == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return NULL;
-	}
+	lpm_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_lpm_tailq.head, rte_lpm_list);
 
 	RTE_BUILD_BUG_ON(sizeof(struct rte_lpm_tbl24_entry) != 2);
 	RTE_BUILD_BUG_ON(sizeof(struct rte_lpm_tbl8_entry) != 2);
@@ -232,12 +227,7 @@ rte_lpm_free(struct rte_lpm *lpm)
 	if (lpm == NULL)
 		return;
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	if ((lpm_list =
-	     RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_LPM, rte_lpm_list)) == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return;
-	}
+	lpm_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_lpm_tailq.head, rte_lpm_list);
 
 	rte_rwlock_write_lock(RTE_EAL_TAILQ_RWLOCK);
 
@@ -384,8 +374,8 @@ rule_find(struct rte_lpm *lpm, uint32_t ip_masked, uint8_t depth)
 			return (rule_index);
 	}
 
-	/* If rule is not found return -E_RTE_NO_TAILQ. */
-	return -E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
+	/* If rule is not found return -EINVAL. */
+	return -EINVAL;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -969,10 +959,10 @@ rte_lpm_delete(struct rte_lpm *lpm, uint32_t ip, uint8_t depth)
 
 	/*
 	 * Check if rule_to_delete_index was found. If no rule was found the
-	 * function rule_find returns -E_RTE_NO_TAILQ.
+	 * function rule_find returns -EINVAL.
 	 */
 	if (rule_to_delete_index < 0)
-		return -E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
+		return -EINVAL;
 
 	/* Delete the rule from the rule table. */
 	rule_delete(lpm, rule_to_delete_index, depth);
diff --git a/lib/librte_lpm/rte_lpm.h b/lib/librte_lpm/rte_lpm.h
index 586300b..e6c25b6 100644
--- a/lib/librte_lpm/rte_lpm.h
+++ b/lib/librte_lpm/rte_lpm.h
@@ -163,7 +163,6 @@ struct rte_lpm {
  *   to an appropriate values. Possible rte_errno values include:
  *    - E_RTE_NO_CONFIG - function could not get pointer to rte_config structure
  *    - E_RTE_SECONDARY - function was called from a secondary process instance
- *    - E_RTE_NO_TAILQ - no tailq list could be got for the lpm object list
  *    - EINVAL - invalid parameter passed to function
  *    - ENOSPC - the maximum number of memzones has already been allocated
  *    - EEXIST - a memzone with the same name already exists
diff --git a/lib/librte_lpm/rte_lpm6.c b/lib/librte_lpm/rte_lpm6.c
index d72f9b3..6c2b293 100644
--- a/lib/librte_lpm/rte_lpm6.c
+++ b/lib/librte_lpm/rte_lpm6.c
@@ -78,6 +78,11 @@ enum valid_flag {
 
 TAILQ_HEAD(rte_lpm6_list, rte_tailq_entry);
 
+static struct rte_tailq_elem rte_lpm6_tailq = {
+	.name = "RTE_LPM6",
+};
+EAL_REGISTER_TAILQ(rte_lpm6_tailq)
+
 /** Tbl entry structure. It is the same for both tbl24 and tbl8 */
 struct rte_lpm6_tbl_entry {
 	uint32_t next_hop:	21;  /**< Next hop / next table to be checked. */
@@ -150,12 +155,7 @@ rte_lpm6_create(const char *name, int socket_id,
 	uint64_t mem_size, rules_size;
 	struct rte_lpm6_list *lpm_list;
 
-	/* Check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	if ((lpm_list =
-	     RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_LPM6, rte_lpm6_list)) == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return NULL;
-	}
+	lpm_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_lpm6_tailq.head, rte_lpm6_list);
 
 	RTE_BUILD_BUG_ON(sizeof(struct rte_lpm6_tbl_entry) != sizeof(uint32_t));
 
@@ -237,12 +237,7 @@ rte_lpm6_find_existing(const char *name)
 	struct rte_tailq_entry *te;
 	struct rte_lpm6_list *lpm_list;
 
-	/* Check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	if ((lpm_list = RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_LPM6,
-			rte_lpm6_list)) == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return NULL;
-	}
+	lpm_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_lpm6_tailq.head, rte_lpm6_list);
 
 	rte_rwlock_read_lock(RTE_EAL_TAILQ_RWLOCK);
 	TAILQ_FOREACH(te, lpm_list, next) {
@@ -273,12 +268,7 @@ rte_lpm6_free(struct rte_lpm6 *lpm)
 	if (lpm == NULL)
 		return;
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	if ((lpm_list =
-	     RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_LPM, rte_lpm6_list)) == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return;
-	}
+	lpm_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_lpm6_tailq.head, rte_lpm6_list);
 
 	rte_rwlock_write_lock(RTE_EAL_TAILQ_RWLOCK);
 
diff --git a/lib/librte_lpm/rte_lpm6.h b/lib/librte_lpm/rte_lpm6.h
index 4db810f..cedcea8 100644
--- a/lib/librte_lpm/rte_lpm6.h
+++ b/lib/librte_lpm/rte_lpm6.h
@@ -72,7 +72,6 @@ struct rte_lpm6_config {
  *   to an appropriate values. Possible rte_errno values include:
  *    - E_RTE_NO_CONFIG - function could not get pointer to rte_config structure
  *    - E_RTE_SECONDARY - function was called from a secondary process instance
- *    - E_RTE_NO_TAILQ - no tailq list could be got for the lpm object list
  *    - EINVAL - invalid parameter passed to function
  *    - ENOSPC - the maximum number of memzones has already been allocated
  *    - EEXIST - a memzone with the same name already exists
diff --git a/lib/librte_mempool/rte_mempool.c b/lib/librte_mempool/rte_mempool.c
index 3301e97..9405b92 100644
--- a/lib/librte_mempool/rte_mempool.c
+++ b/lib/librte_mempool/rte_mempool.c
@@ -62,6 +62,12 @@
 
 TAILQ_HEAD(rte_mempool_list, rte_tailq_entry);
 
+static struct rte_tailq_elem rte_mempool_tailq =
+{
+	.name = "RTE_MEMPOOL",
+};
+EAL_REGISTER_TAILQ(rte_mempool_tailq)
+
 #define CACHE_FLUSHTHRESH_MULTIPLIER 1.5
 
 /*
@@ -432,13 +438,7 @@ rte_mempool_xmem_create(const char *name, unsigned n, unsigned elt_size,
 			  RTE_CACHE_LINE_MASK) != 0);
 #endif
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	mempool_list = RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_MEMPOOL,
-					       rte_mempool_list);
-	if (mempool_list == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return NULL;
-	}
+	mempool_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_mempool_tailq.head, rte_mempool_list);
 
 	/* asked cache too big */
 	if (cache_size > RTE_MEMPOOL_CACHE_MAX_SIZE) {
@@ -834,11 +834,7 @@ rte_mempool_list_dump(FILE *f)
 	struct rte_tailq_entry *te;
 	struct rte_mempool_list *mempool_list;
 
-	if ((mempool_list =
-	     RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_MEMPOOL, rte_mempool_list)) == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return;
-	}
+	mempool_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_mempool_tailq.head, rte_mempool_list);
 
 	rte_rwlock_read_lock(RTE_EAL_MEMPOOL_RWLOCK);
 
@@ -858,11 +854,7 @@ rte_mempool_lookup(const char *name)
 	struct rte_tailq_entry *te;
 	struct rte_mempool_list *mempool_list;
 
-	if ((mempool_list =
-	     RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_MEMPOOL, rte_mempool_list)) == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return NULL;
-	}
+	mempool_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_mempool_tailq.head, rte_mempool_list);
 
 	rte_rwlock_read_lock(RTE_EAL_MEMPOOL_RWLOCK);
 
@@ -888,11 +880,7 @@ void rte_mempool_walk(void (*func)(const struct rte_mempool *, void *),
 	struct rte_tailq_entry *te = NULL;
 	struct rte_mempool_list *mempool_list;
 
-	if ((mempool_list =
-	     RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_MEMPOOL, rte_mempool_list)) == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return;
-	}
+	mempool_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_mempool_tailq.head, rte_mempool_list);
 
 	rte_rwlock_read_lock(RTE_EAL_MEMPOOL_RWLOCK);
 
diff --git a/lib/librte_mempool/rte_mempool.h b/lib/librte_mempool/rte_mempool.h
index 39f7233..9001312 100644
--- a/lib/librte_mempool/rte_mempool.h
+++ b/lib/librte_mempool/rte_mempool.h
@@ -524,7 +524,6 @@ typedef void (rte_mempool_ctor_t)(struct rte_mempool *, void *);
  *   with rte_errno set appropriately. Possible rte_errno values include:
  *    - E_RTE_NO_CONFIG - function could not get pointer to rte_config structure
  *    - E_RTE_SECONDARY - function was called from a secondary process instance
- *    - E_RTE_NO_TAILQ - no tailq list could be got for the ring or mempool list
  *    - EINVAL - cache size provided is too large
  *    - ENOSPC - the maximum number of memzones has already been allocated
  *    - EEXIST - a memzone with the same name already exists
@@ -625,7 +624,6 @@ rte_mempool_create(const char *name, unsigned n, unsigned elt_size,
  *   with rte_errno set appropriately. Possible rte_errno values include:
  *    - E_RTE_NO_CONFIG - function could not get pointer to rte_config structure
  *    - E_RTE_SECONDARY - function was called from a secondary process instance
- *    - E_RTE_NO_TAILQ - no tailq list could be got for the ring or mempool list
  *    - EINVAL - cache size provided is too large
  *    - ENOSPC - the maximum number of memzones has already been allocated
  *    - EEXIST - a memzone with the same name already exists
@@ -716,7 +714,6 @@ rte_mempool_xmem_create(const char *name, unsigned n, unsigned elt_size,
  *   with rte_errno set appropriately. Possible rte_errno values include:
  *    - E_RTE_NO_CONFIG - function could not get pointer to rte_config structure
  *    - E_RTE_SECONDARY - function was called from a secondary process instance
- *    - E_RTE_NO_TAILQ - no tailq list could be got for the ring or mempool list
  *    - EINVAL - cache size provided is too large
  *    - ENOSPC - the maximum number of memzones has already been allocated
  *    - EEXIST - a memzone with the same name already exists
diff --git a/lib/librte_reorder/rte_reorder.c b/lib/librte_reorder/rte_reorder.c
index c5ce794..88f1baf 100644
--- a/lib/librte_reorder/rte_reorder.c
+++ b/lib/librte_reorder/rte_reorder.c
@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@
 
 TAILQ_HEAD(rte_reorder_list, rte_tailq_entry);
 
+static struct rte_tailq_elem rte_reorder_tailq = {
+       .name = "RTE_REORDER",
+};
+EAL_REGISTER_TAILQ(rte_reorder_tailq)
+
 #define NO_FLAGS 0
 #define RTE_REORDER_PREFIX "RO_"
 #define RTE_REORDER_NAMESIZE 32
@@ -126,12 +131,7 @@ rte_reorder_create(const char *name, unsigned socket_id, unsigned int size)
 	const unsigned int bufsize = sizeof(struct rte_reorder_buffer) +
 					(2 * size * sizeof(struct rte_mbuf *));
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	reorder_list = RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_REORDER, rte_reorder_list);
-	if (!reorder_list) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return NULL;
-	}
+	reorder_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_reorder_tailq.head, rte_reorder_list);
 
 	/* Check user arguments. */
 	if (!rte_is_power_of_2(size)) {
@@ -219,12 +219,7 @@ rte_reorder_free(struct rte_reorder_buffer *b)
 	if (b == NULL)
 		return;
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	reorder_list = RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_REORDER, rte_reorder_list);
-	if (!reorder_list) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return;
-	}
+	reorder_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_reorder_tailq.head, rte_reorder_list);
 
 	rte_rwlock_write_lock(RTE_EAL_TAILQ_RWLOCK);
 
@@ -255,12 +250,7 @@ rte_reorder_find_existing(const char *name)
 	struct rte_tailq_entry *te;
 	struct rte_reorder_list *reorder_list;
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	reorder_list = RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_REORDER, rte_reorder_list);
-	if (!reorder_list) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return NULL;
-	}
+	reorder_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_reorder_tailq.head, rte_reorder_list);
 
 	rte_rwlock_read_lock(RTE_EAL_TAILQ_RWLOCK);
 	TAILQ_FOREACH(te, reorder_list, next) {
diff --git a/lib/librte_reorder/rte_reorder.h b/lib/librte_reorder/rte_reorder.h
index 8300bf0..c7a2934 100644
--- a/lib/librte_reorder/rte_reorder.h
+++ b/lib/librte_reorder/rte_reorder.h
@@ -102,7 +102,6 @@ rte_reorder_init(struct rte_reorder_buffer *b, unsigned int bufsize,
  *   Pointer to reorder buffer instance or NULL if object not found with rte_errno
  *   set appropriately. Possible rte_errno values include:
  *    - ENOENT - required entry not available to return.
- *    - E_RTE_NO_TAILQ - no tailq list could be got for the
  *    reorder instance list
  */
 struct rte_reorder_buffer *
diff --git a/lib/librte_ring/rte_ring.c b/lib/librte_ring/rte_ring.c
index 92ecf04..1b4361d 100644
--- a/lib/librte_ring/rte_ring.c
+++ b/lib/librte_ring/rte_ring.c
@@ -91,6 +91,12 @@
 
 TAILQ_HEAD(rte_ring_list, rte_tailq_entry);
 
+static struct rte_tailq_elem rte_ring_tailq =
+{
+	.name = RTE_TAILQ_RING_NAME,
+};
+EAL_REGISTER_TAILQ(rte_ring_tailq)
+
 /* true if x is a power of 2 */
 #define POWEROF2(x) ((((x)-1) & (x)) == 0)
 
@@ -161,12 +167,7 @@ rte_ring_create(const char *name, unsigned count, int socket_id,
 	int mz_flags = 0;
 	struct rte_ring_list* ring_list = NULL;
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	if ((ring_list =
-	     RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_RING, rte_ring_list)) == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return NULL;
-	}
+	ring_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_ring_tailq.head, rte_ring_list);
 
 	ring_size = rte_ring_get_memsize(count);
 	if (ring_size < 0) {
@@ -287,12 +288,7 @@ rte_ring_list_dump(FILE *f)
 	const struct rte_tailq_entry *te;
 	struct rte_ring_list *ring_list;
 
-	/* check that we have an initialised tail queue */
-	if ((ring_list =
-	     RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_RING, rte_ring_list)) == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return;
-	}
+	ring_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_ring_tailq.head, rte_ring_list);
 
 	rte_rwlock_read_lock(RTE_EAL_TAILQ_RWLOCK);
 
@@ -311,12 +307,7 @@ rte_ring_lookup(const char *name)
 	struct rte_ring *r = NULL;
 	struct rte_ring_list *ring_list;
 
-	/* check that we have an initialized tail queue */
-	if ((ring_list =
-	     RTE_TAILQ_LOOKUP_BY_IDX(RTE_TAILQ_RING, rte_ring_list)) == NULL) {
-		rte_errno = E_RTE_NO_TAILQ;
-		return NULL;
-	}
+	ring_list = RTE_TAILQ_CAST(rte_ring_tailq.head, rte_ring_list);
 
 	rte_rwlock_read_lock(RTE_EAL_TAILQ_RWLOCK);
 
diff --git a/lib/librte_ring/rte_ring.h b/lib/librte_ring/rte_ring.h
index bdf69b7..af68888 100644
--- a/lib/librte_ring/rte_ring.h
+++ b/lib/librte_ring/rte_ring.h
@@ -101,6 +101,8 @@ extern "C" {
 #include <rte_atomic.h>
 #include <rte_branch_prediction.h>
 
+#define RTE_TAILQ_RING_NAME "RTE_RING"
+
 enum rte_ring_queue_behavior {
 	RTE_RING_QUEUE_FIXED = 0, /* Enq/Deq a fixed number of items from a ring */
 	RTE_RING_QUEUE_VARIABLE   /* Enq/Deq as many items a possible from ring */
@@ -291,7 +293,6 @@ int rte_ring_init(struct rte_ring *r, const char *name, unsigned count,
  *    rte_errno set appropriately. Possible errno values include:
  *    - E_RTE_NO_CONFIG - function could not get pointer to rte_config structure
  *    - E_RTE_SECONDARY - function was called from a secondary process instance
- *    - E_RTE_NO_TAILQ - no tailq list could be got for the ring list
  *    - EINVAL - count provided is not a power of 2
  *    - ENOSPC - the maximum number of memzones has already been allocated
  *    - EEXIST - a memzone with the same name already exists
