diff --git a/include/libcamera/controls.h b/include/libcamera/controls.h
index a0379d52..d692e088 100644
--- a/include/libcamera/controls.h
+++ b/include/libcamera/controls.h
@@ -189,6 +189,7 @@ private:
 	using ControlListMap = std::unordered_map<unsigned int, ControlValue>;
 
 public:
+	ControlList();
 	ControlList(const ControlIdMap &idmap, ControlValidator *validator = nullptr);
 	ControlList(const ControlInfoMap &info, ControlValidator *validator = nullptr);
 
diff --git a/src/libcamera/controls.cpp b/src/libcamera/controls.cpp
index 50f37c6b..9c6474ad 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/controls.cpp
+++ b/src/libcamera/controls.cpp
@@ -590,6 +590,17 @@ void ControlInfoMap::generateIdmap()
  * controls.
  */
 
+/**
+ * \brief Construct a ControlList not associated with any object
+ *
+ * This constructor is meant to support ControlList serialization and shall not
+ * be used directly by application.
+ */
+ControlList::ControlList()
+	: validator_(nullptr), idmap_(nullptr)
+{
+}
+
 /**
  * \brief Construct a ControlList with an optional control validator
  * \param[in] idmap The ControlId map for the control list target object