diff --git a/proto/rip/rip.c b/proto/rip/rip.c
index 17d0d5a9..f69127db 100644
--- a/proto/rip/rip.c
+++ b/proto/rip/rip.c
@@ -868,10 +868,11 @@ static int
 rip_reconfigure(struct proto *p, struct proto_config *c)
 {
   struct rip_config *new = (struct rip_config *) c;
+  int generic = sizeof(struct proto_config) + sizeof(list);
 
-  return !memcmp(((byte *) P_CF) + sizeof(struct proto_config),
-                 ((byte *) new) + sizeof(struct proto_config),
-                 sizeof(struct rip_proto_config) - sizeof(struct proto_config));
+  return !memcmp(((byte *) P_CF) + generic,
+                 ((byte *) new) + generic,
+                 sizeof(struct rip_proto_config) - generic);
 }
 
 struct protocol proto_rip = {
diff --git a/proto/rip/rip.h b/proto/rip/rip.h
index 7c7b000f..cbddeaf6 100644
--- a/proto/rip/rip.h
+++ b/proto/rip/rip.h
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ struct rip_patt {
 
 struct rip_proto_config {
   struct proto_config c;
-  list iface_list;	/* Patterns configured */
+  list iface_list;	/* Patterns configured -- keep it first; see rip_reconfigure why */
 
   int infinity;		/* User configurable data */
   int port;