diff --git a/lib/sock/posix/posix.c b/lib/sock/posix/posix.c
index f711933438..568fc805e5 100644
--- a/lib/sock/posix/posix.c
+++ b/lib/sock/posix/posix.c
@@ -506,6 +506,7 @@ spdk_posix_sock_group_impl_add_sock(struct spdk_sock_group_impl *_group, struct
 #if defined(__linux__)
 	struct epoll_event event;
 
+	memset(&event, 0, sizeof(event));
 	event.events = EPOLLIN;
 	event.data.ptr = sock;
 
diff --git a/lib/sock/vpp/vpp.c b/lib/sock/vpp/vpp.c
index 5d8e5878ea..d97b5559ce 100644
--- a/lib/sock/vpp/vpp.c
+++ b/lib/sock/vpp/vpp.c
@@ -557,6 +557,7 @@ spdk_vpp_sock_group_impl_add_sock(struct spdk_sock_group_impl *_group, struct sp
 	assert(group != NULL);
 	assert(g_vpp_initialized);
 
+	memset(&event, 0, sizeof(event));
 	event.events = EPOLLIN;
 	event.data.ptr = sock;