diff --git a/zebra/rt_netlink.c b/zebra/rt_netlink.c
index b968a84e76..15dd7ef1cb 100644
--- a/zebra/rt_netlink.c
+++ b/zebra/rt_netlink.c
@@ -541,7 +541,10 @@ netlink_route_change_read_multicast (struct sockaddr_nl *snl, struct nlmsghdr *h
   if (mroute)
     m = mroute;
   else
-    m = &mr;
+    {
+      memset (&mr, 0, sizeof (mr));
+      m = &mr;
+    }
 
   rtm = NLMSG_DATA (h);