diff --git a/lib/util/util.c b/lib/util/util.c
index 29b47f5858f..f49d25865c5 100644
--- a/lib/util/util.c
+++ b/lib/util/util.c
@@ -265,15 +265,13 @@ static void _dump_data(int level, const uint8_t *buf, int len,
 		       bool omit_zero_bytes)
 {
 	int i=0;
-	const uint8_t empty[16];
+	static const uint8_t empty[16] = { 0, };
 	bool skipped = false;
 
 	if (len<=0) return;
 
 	if (!DEBUGLVL(level)) return;
 
-	memset(&empty, '\0', 16);
-
 	for (i=0;i<len;) {
 
 		if (i%16 == 0) {