diff --git a/lib/hdb/db.c b/lib/hdb/db.c
index 614edcffe..c7cbef730 100644
--- a/lib/hdb/db.c
+++ b/lib/hdb/db.c
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ krb5_error_code
 hdb_db_create(krb5_context context, HDB **db, 
 	      const char *filename)
 {
-    *db = malloc(sizeof(**db));
+    *db = calloc(1, sizeof(**db));
     if (*db == NULL) {
 	krb5_set_error_string(context, "malloc: out of memory");
 	return ENOMEM;
diff --git a/lib/hdb/db3.c b/lib/hdb/db3.c
index 5406fac6d..4333af291 100644
--- a/lib/hdb/db3.c
+++ b/lib/hdb/db3.c
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ krb5_error_code
 hdb_db_create(krb5_context context, HDB **db, 
 	      const char *filename)
 {
-    *db = malloc(sizeof(**db));
+    *db = calloc(1, sizeof(**db));
     if (*db == NULL) {
 	krb5_set_error_string(context, "malloc: out of memory");
 	return ENOMEM;