diff --git a/middleware/include/can_utility.h b/middleware/include/can_utility.h
index 45940bc..80ee63b 100644
--- a/middleware/include/can_utility.h
+++ b/middleware/include/can_utility.h
@@ -7,4 +7,5 @@ typedef struct {
 	uint8_t msg_rate; /* in messages per second */
 } rl_can_msg_t;
 
-HAL_StatusTypeDef send_rl_can_msg(can_t *can, rl_can_msg_t *rl_can_msg);
\ No newline at end of file
+HAL_StatusTypeDef send_rl_can_msg(can_t *can, rl_can_msg_t *rl_can_msg);
+HAL_StatusTypeDef rl_can_msg_init(rl_can_msg_t *rl_can_msg);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/middleware/src/can_utility.c b/middleware/src/can_utility.c
index 70f6d8b..78fd3a5 100644
--- a/middleware/src/can_utility.c
+++ b/middleware/src/can_utility.c
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
 
 #include "can_utility.h"
 
+HAL_StatusTypeDef rl_can_msg_init(rl_can_msg_t *rl_can_msg)
+{
+	rl_can_msg->msg_timer = osTimerNew(NULL, osTimerOnce, NULL, NULL);
+
+	return HAL_OK;
+}
+
 /**
  * Sends a rate limited can message
  */