diff --git a/tools/perf/util/header.c b/tools/perf/util/header.c
index 4a5e1907a7ab..54c34c107cab 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/header.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/header.c
@@ -3372,7 +3372,7 @@ int perf_event__synthesize_attr(struct perf_tool *tool,
 	size += sizeof(struct perf_event_header);
 	size += ids * sizeof(u64);
 
-	ev = malloc(size);
+	ev = zalloc(size);
 
 	if (ev == NULL)
 		return -ENOMEM;