diff --git a/src/output-json-smtp.c b/src/output-json-smtp.c
index cc3003907585..f7674687c5c4 100644
--- a/src/output-json-smtp.c
+++ b/src/output-json-smtp.c
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ static OutputInitResult OutputSmtpLogInitSub(ConfNode *conf, OutputCtx *parent_c
     OutputInitResult result = { NULL, false };
     OutputJsonCtx *ojc = parent_ctx->data;
 
-    OutputJsonEmailCtx *email_ctx = SCMalloc(sizeof(OutputJsonEmailCtx));
+    OutputJsonEmailCtx *email_ctx = SCCalloc(1, sizeof(OutputJsonEmailCtx));
     if (unlikely(email_ctx == NULL))
         return result;