diff --git a/src/string.c b/src/string.c
index e78737b3..ba9283b2 100644
--- a/src/string.c
+++ b/src/string.c
@@ -62,13 +62,12 @@ struct ssh_string_struct *ssh_string_new(size_t size)
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    str = malloc(sizeof(struct ssh_string_struct) + size);
+    str = calloc(1, sizeof(struct ssh_string_struct) + size);
     if (str == NULL) {
         return NULL;
     }
 
     str->size = htonl((uint32_t)size);
-    str->data[0] = 0;
 
     return str;
 }