diff --git a/src/cairo-xlib-display.c b/src/cairo-xlib-display.c
index 8b2ffe8e1..6bc76d976 100644
--- a/src/cairo-xlib-display.c
+++ b/src/cairo-xlib-display.c
@@ -213,6 +213,7 @@ _cairo_xlib_device_create (Display *dpy)
 	goto UNLOCK;
     }
 
+    memset (display, 0, sizeof (cairo_xlib_display_t));
     _cairo_device_init (&display->base, &_cairo_xlib_device_backend);
 
     display->display = dpy;