diff --git a/sys/dev/ixgbe/ixgbe_x550.c b/sys/dev/ixgbe/ixgbe_x550.c
index 03904c026cae..02db10b61673 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ixgbe/ixgbe_x550.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ixgbe/ixgbe_x550.c
@@ -3137,6 +3137,7 @@ s32 ixgbe_read_ee_hostif_X550(struct ixgbe_hw *hw, u16 offset, u16 *data)
 	/* one word */
 	buffer.length = IXGBE_CPU_TO_BE16(sizeof(u16));
 	buffer.pad2 = 0;
+	buffer.data = 0;
 	buffer.pad3 = 0;
 
 	status = hw->mac.ops.acquire_swfw_sync(hw, mask);
@@ -3197,6 +3198,7 @@ s32 ixgbe_read_ee_hostif_buffer_X550(struct ixgbe_hw *hw,
 		buffer.address = IXGBE_CPU_TO_BE32((offset + current_word) * 2);
 		buffer.length = IXGBE_CPU_TO_BE16(words_to_read * 2);
 		buffer.pad2 = 0;
+		buffer.data = 0;
 		buffer.pad3 = 0;
 
 		status = ixgbe_hic_unlocked(hw, (u32 *)&buffer, sizeof(buffer),