diff --git a/dbe/dbe.c b/dbe/dbe.c
index 0c1f2e589..e39897105 100644
--- a/dbe/dbe.c
+++ b/dbe/dbe.c
@@ -1363,7 +1363,7 @@ DbeExtensionInit(void)
 
         pScreen = screenInfo.screens[i];
 
-        if (!(pDbeScreenPriv = malloc(sizeof(DbeScreenPrivRec)))) {
+        if (!(pDbeScreenPriv = calloc(1, sizeof(DbeScreenPrivRec)))) {
             /* If we can not alloc a window or screen private,
              * then free any privates that we already alloc'ed and return
              */