diff --git a/sys/boot/ficl/dict.c b/sys/boot/ficl/dict.c
index 52858b7d129..d8c67657da3 100644
--- a/sys/boot/ficl/dict.c
+++ b/sys/boot/ficl/dict.c
@@ -352,6 +352,7 @@ FICL_DICT  *dictCreateHashed(unsigned nCells, unsigned nHash)
 
     pDict = ficlMalloc(nAlloc);
     assert(pDict);
+    memset(pDict, 0, sizeof (FICL_DICT));
     pDict->size = nCells;
     dictEmpty(pDict, nHash);
     return pDict;