diff --git a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_ops_linux.c b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_ops_linux.c
index f984a5ab2c6f..f43f10e60779 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_ops_linux.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_ops_linux.c
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@ int r8712_usbctrl_vendorreq(struct intf_priv *pintfpriv, u8 request, u16 value,
 	 */
 	u8 *palloc_buf, *pIo_buf;
 
-	palloc_buf = kmalloc((u32)len + 16, GFP_ATOMIC);
+	palloc_buf = kzalloc((u32)len + 16, GFP_ATOMIC);
 	if (!palloc_buf)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	pIo_buf = palloc_buf + 16 - ((addr_t)(palloc_buf) & 0x0f);