diff --git a/hw/9pfs/9p.c b/hw/9pfs/9p.c
index 26aa7d5648..bf23b011a8 100644
--- a/hw/9pfs/9p.c
+++ b/hw/9pfs/9p.c
@@ -3282,7 +3282,7 @@ static void coroutine_fn v9fs_xattrcreate(void *opaque)
     xattr_fidp->fs.xattr.flags = flags;
     v9fs_string_init(&xattr_fidp->fs.xattr.name);
     v9fs_string_copy(&xattr_fidp->fs.xattr.name, &name);
-    xattr_fidp->fs.xattr.value = g_malloc(size);
+    xattr_fidp->fs.xattr.value = g_malloc0(size);
     err = offset;
     put_fid(pdu, file_fidp);
 out_nofid: