diff --git a/hw/intc/i8259.c b/hw/intc/i8259.c
index d0b0c52b97..a563b82c4e 100644
--- a/hw/intc/i8259.c
+++ b/hw/intc/i8259.c
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ qemu_irq *i8259_init(ISABus *bus, qemu_irq parent_irq)
     ISADevice *isadev;
     int i;
 
-    irq_set = g_malloc(ISA_NUM_IRQS * sizeof(qemu_irq));
+    irq_set = g_new0(qemu_irq, ISA_NUM_IRQS);
 
     isadev = i8259_init_chip(TYPE_I8259, bus, true);
     dev = DEVICE(isadev);