diff --git a/src/gpu/vulkan/SDL_gpu_vulkan.c b/src/gpu/vulkan/SDL_gpu_vulkan.c
index ac14932ec8..25b05581ca 100644
--- a/src/gpu/vulkan/SDL_gpu_vulkan.c
+++ b/src/gpu/vulkan/SDL_gpu_vulkan.c
@@ -11914,7 +11914,7 @@ static SDL_GPUDevice *VULKAN_CreateDevice(bool debugMode, bool preferLowPower, S
     }
 
     // FIXME: just move this into this function
-    result = (SDL_GPUDevice *)SDL_malloc(sizeof(SDL_GPUDevice));
+    result = (SDL_GPUDevice *)SDL_calloc(1, sizeof(SDL_GPUDevice));
     ASSIGN_DRIVER(VULKAN)
 
     result->driverData = (SDL_GPURenderer *)renderer;