diff --git a/sys/dev/netif/ath/ath/if_ath_spectral.c b/sys/dev/netif/ath/ath/if_ath_spectral.c
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@
 		 * pointer for us to use below in reclaiming the buffer;
 		 * may want to be more defensive.
 		 */
-		outdata = kmalloc(outsize, M_TEMP, M_INTWAIT);
+		outdata = kmalloc(outsize, M_TEMP, M_INTWAIT | M_ZERO);
 		if (outdata == NULL) {
 			error = ENOMEM;
 			goto bad;