diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedList.C b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedList.C
index ab98111778..7c20b200b3 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedList.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedList.C
@@ -40,10 +40,7 @@ PackedList<nBits>::PackedList(const label size, const unsigned int val)
     List<unsigned int>(intSize(size)),
     size_(size)
 {
-    for (label i = 0; i < size; i++)
-    {
-        set(i, val);
-    }
+    operator=(val);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedListI.H b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedListI.H
index 5ca70825cc..8e24a291bc 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedListI.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/Lists/PackedList/PackedListI.H
@@ -221,9 +221,16 @@ inline void PackedList<nBits>::operator=(const unsigned int val)
     checkValue(val);
 #   endif
 
-    for (label i = 0; i < size_; i++)
+    if (val == 0)
     {
-        set(i, val);
+        List<unsigned int>::operator=(val);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        for (label i = 0; i < size_; i++)
+        {
+            set(i, val);
+        }
     }
 }