diff --git a/util-linux/fsck_minix.c b/util-linux/fsck_minix.c
index 422cae3de..a5d52b26c 100644
--- a/util-linux/fsck_minix.c
+++ b/util-linux/fsck_minix.c
@@ -677,10 +677,8 @@ static void read_superblock(void)
 
 static void read_tables(void)
 {
-	inode_map = xmalloc(IMAPS * BLOCK_SIZE);
-	zone_map = xmalloc(ZMAPS * BLOCK_SIZE);
-	memset(inode_map, 0, IMAPS * BLOCK_SIZE);
-	memset(zone_map, 0, ZMAPS * BLOCK_SIZE);
+	inode_map = xzalloc(IMAPS * BLOCK_SIZE);
+	zone_map = xzalloc(ZMAPS * BLOCK_SIZE);
 	inode_buffer = xmalloc(INODE_BUFFER_SIZE);
 	inode_count = xmalloc(INODES + 1);
 	zone_count = xmalloc(ZONES);