diff --git a/build-aux/syntax-check.mk b/build-aux/syntax-check.mk
index 10fa4bb553..94340ddf92 100644
--- a/build-aux/syntax-check.mk
+++ b/build-aux/syntax-check.mk
@@ -1106,7 +1106,7 @@ sc_prohibit_backslash_alignment:
 # Rule to ensure that variables declared using a cleanup macro are
 # always initialized.
 sc_require_attribute_cleanup_initialization:
-	@prohibit='((g_auto(ptr|free)?)|(VIR_AUTO((FREE|PTR|UNREF|CLEAN)\(.+\)|CLOSE|STRINGLIST))) *[^=]+;' \
+	@prohibit='((g_auto(ptr|free|slist)?)|VIR_AUTOCLOSE)) *[^=]+;' \
 	in_vc_files='\.[chx]$$' \
 	halt='variable declared with a cleanup macro must be initialized' \
 	  $(_sc_search_regexp)