diff --git a/src/SDL_properties.c b/src/SDL_properties.c
index 31da31d32..de54ee8c3 100644
--- a/src/SDL_properties.c
+++ b/src/SDL_properties.c
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ SDL_PropertiesID SDL_CreateProperties(void)
         return 0;
     }
 
-    properties = SDL_malloc(sizeof(*properties));
+    properties = SDL_calloc(1, sizeof(*properties));
     if (!properties) {
         goto error;
     }