diff --git a/kdc/misc.c b/kdc/misc.c
index befef9d51..be4d0588e 100644
--- a/kdc/misc.c
+++ b/kdc/misc.c
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ _kdc_db_fetch(krb5_context context,
     krb5_error_code ret = HDB_ERR_NOENTRY;
     int i;
 
-    ent = malloc (sizeof (*ent));
+    ent = calloc (1, sizeof (*ent));
     if (ent == NULL)
 	return ENOMEM;
     ent->entry.principal = principal;