diff --git a/net/netfilter/xt_IDLETIMER.c b/net/netfilter/xt_IDLETIMER.c
index 7b2f359bfce4..2f7cf5ecebf4 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/xt_IDLETIMER.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/xt_IDLETIMER.c
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ static int idletimer_tg_create(struct idletimer_tg_info *info)
 {
 	int ret;
 
-	info->timer = kmalloc(sizeof(*info->timer), GFP_KERNEL);
+	info->timer = kzalloc(sizeof(*info->timer), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!info->timer) {
 		ret = -ENOMEM;
 		goto out;