diff --git a/cpukit/posix/src/aio_misc.c b/cpukit/posix/src/aio_misc.c
index 7536e650e3..5e4195f294 100644
--- a/cpukit/posix/src/aio_misc.c
+++ b/cpukit/posix/src/aio_misc.c
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ rtems_aio_request_chain *rtems_aio_search_fd(
     if ( create == 0 ) {
       r_chain = NULL;
     } else {
-      r_chain = malloc( sizeof( rtems_aio_request_chain ) );
+      r_chain = calloc( 1, sizeof( rtems_aio_request_chain ) );
       rtems_chain_initialize_empty( &r_chain->perfd );
       rtems_chain_initialize_node( &r_chain->next_fd );