diff --git a/backend/wayland/backend.c b/backend/wayland/backend.c
index e57f3583..84624bfe 100644
--- a/backend/wayland/backend.c
+++ b/backend/wayland/backend.c
@@ -64,16 +64,16 @@ static void wlr_wl_backend_destroy(struct wlr_backend *_backend) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	for (size_t i = 0; i < backend->outputs->length; ++i) {
-		wlr_output_destroy(backend->outputs->items[i]);
+	struct wlr_wl_backend_output *output, *tmp_output;
+	wl_list_for_each_safe(output, tmp_output, &backend->outputs, link) {
+		wlr_output_destroy(&output->wlr_output);
 	}
 
-	for (size_t i = 0; i < backend->devices->length; ++i) {
-		wlr_input_device_destroy(backend->devices->items[i]);
+	struct wlr_input_device *input_device, *tmp_input_device;
+	wl_list_for_each_safe(input_device, tmp_input_device, &backend->devices, link) {
+		wlr_input_device_destroy(input_device);
 	}
 
-	list_free(backend->devices);
-	list_free(backend->outputs);
 	free(backend->seat_name);
 
 	wl_event_source_remove(backend->remote_display_src);
@@ -104,8 +104,8 @@ bool wlr_backend_is_wl(struct wlr_backend *b) {
 
 struct wlr_wl_backend_output *wlr_wl_output_for_surface(
 		struct wlr_wl_backend *backend, struct wl_surface *surface) {
-	for (size_t i = 0; i < backend->outputs->length; ++i) {
-		struct wlr_wl_backend_output *output = backend->outputs->items[i];
+	struct wlr_wl_backend_output *output;
+	wl_list_for_each(output, &backend->outputs, link) {
 		if (output->surface == surface) {
 			return output;
 		}
@@ -123,15 +123,8 @@ struct wlr_backend *wlr_wl_backend_create(struct wl_display *display) {
 	}
 	wlr_backend_init(&backend->backend, &backend_impl);
 
-	if (!(backend->devices = list_create())) {
-		wlr_log(L_ERROR, "Could not allocate devices list");
-		goto error;
-	}
-
-	if (!(backend->outputs = list_create())) {
-		wlr_log(L_ERROR, "Could not allocate outputs list");
-		goto error;
-	}
+	wl_list_init(&backend->devices);
+	wl_list_init(&backend->outputs);
 
 	backend->local_display = display;
 
@@ -150,12 +143,4 @@ struct wlr_backend *wlr_wl_backend_create(struct wl_display *display) {
 	wlr_egl_bind_display(&backend->egl, backend->local_display);
 
 	return &backend->backend;
-
-error:
-	if (backend) {
-		list_free(backend->devices);
-		list_free(backend->outputs);
-	}
-	free(backend);
-	return NULL;
 }
diff --git a/backend/wayland/output.c b/backend/wayland/output.c
index e1138ee1..1a0f0364 100644
--- a/backend/wayland/output.c
+++ b/backend/wayland/output.c
@@ -248,8 +248,8 @@ struct wlr_output *wlr_wl_output_create(struct wlr_backend *_backend) {
 	wlr_output->height = 480;
 	strncpy(wlr_output->make, "wayland", sizeof(wlr_output->make));
 	strncpy(wlr_output->model, "wayland", sizeof(wlr_output->model));
-	snprintf(wlr_output->name, sizeof(wlr_output->name), "WL-%zd",
-			backend->outputs->length + 1);
+	snprintf(wlr_output->name, sizeof(wlr_output->name), "WL-%d",
+			wl_list_length(&backend->outputs) + 1);
 	wlr_output_update_matrix(wlr_output);
 
 	output->backend = backend;
@@ -306,10 +306,7 @@ struct wlr_output *wlr_wl_output_create(struct wlr_backend *_backend) {
 		goto error;
 	}
 
-	if (list_add(backend->outputs, wlr_output) == -1) {
-		wlr_log(L_ERROR, "Allocation failed");
-		goto error;
-	}
+	wl_list_insert(&backend->outputs, &output->link);
 	wlr_output_create_global(wlr_output, backend->local_display);
 	wl_signal_emit(&backend->backend.events.output_add, wlr_output);
 	return wlr_output;
diff --git a/backend/wayland/wl_seat.c b/backend/wayland/wl_seat.c
index d3ff9b64..30074abd 100644
--- a/backend/wayland/wl_seat.c
+++ b/backend/wayland/wl_seat.c
@@ -204,11 +204,7 @@ static struct wlr_input_device *allocate_device(struct wlr_wl_backend *backend,
 	struct wlr_input_device *wlr_device = &wlr_wl_dev->wlr_input_device;
 	wlr_input_device_init(wlr_device, type, &input_device_impl,
 			name, vendor, product);
-	if (list_add(backend->devices, wlr_device) == -1) {
-		wlr_log_errno(L_ERROR, "Allocation failed");
-		free(wlr_wl_dev);
-		return NULL;
-	}
+	wl_list_insert(&backend->devices, &wlr_device->link);
 	return wlr_device;
 }
 
diff --git a/include/backend/wayland.h b/include/backend/wayland.h
index 508a7f52..bc3b6277 100644
--- a/include/backend/wayland.h
+++ b/include/backend/wayland.h
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #include <wlr/backend/wayland.h>
 #include <wlr/types/wlr_output.h>
 #include <wlr/types/wlr_input_device.h>
-#include <wlr/util/list.h>
+#include <wayland-util.h>
 
 struct wlr_wl_backend {
 	struct wlr_backend backend;
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ struct wlr_wl_backend {
 	/* local state */
 	bool started;
 	struct wl_display *local_display;
-	list_t *devices;
-	list_t *outputs;
+	struct wl_list devices;
+	struct wl_list outputs;
 	struct wlr_egl egl;
 	size_t requested_outputs;
 	/* remote state */
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ struct wlr_wl_backend_output {
 	uint32_t enter_serial;
 
 	void *egl_surface;
+	struct wl_list link;
 };
 
 struct wlr_wl_input_device {
diff --git a/include/wlr/types/wlr_output.h b/include/wlr/types/wlr_output.h
index 15df4efd..5c85ce91 100644
--- a/include/wlr/types/wlr_output.h
+++ b/include/wlr/types/wlr_output.h
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #ifndef WLR_TYPES_WLR_OUTPUT_H
 #define WLR_TYPES_WLR_OUTPUT_H
 
+#include <wayland-util.h>
 #include <wayland-server.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>