diff --git a/clients/simple-damage.c b/clients/simple-damage.c
index 821b42b54..d171fb328 100644
--- a/clients/simple-damage.c
+++ b/clients/simple-damage.c
@@ -774,7 +774,7 @@ create_display(int version)
 {
 	struct display *display;
 
-	display = malloc(sizeof *display);
+	display = zalloc(sizeof *display);
 	if (display == NULL) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "out of memory\n");
 		exit(1);
diff --git a/clients/simple-shm.c b/clients/simple-shm.c
index 90892c87f..fe3ef2401 100644
--- a/clients/simple-shm.c
+++ b/clients/simple-shm.c
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ create_display(void)
 {
 	struct display *display;
 
-	display = malloc(sizeof *display);
+	display = zalloc(sizeof *display);
 	if (display == NULL) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "out of memory\n");
 		exit(1);