diff --git a/ospfd/ospf_interface.c b/ospfd/ospf_interface.c
index 270b16b..c37e194 100644
--- a/ospfd/ospf_interface.c
+++ b/ospfd/ospf_interface.c
@@ -467,11 +467,12 @@
   struct ospf_if_params *oip;
 
   oip = XMALLOC (MTYPE_OSPF_IF_PARAMS, sizeof (struct ospf_if_params));
-  memset (oip, 0, sizeof (struct ospf_if_params));
 
   if (!oip)
     return NULL;
 
+  memset (oip, 0, sizeof (struct ospf_if_params));
+
   UNSET_IF_PARAM (oip, output_cost_cmd);
   UNSET_IF_PARAM (oip, transmit_delay);
   UNSET_IF_PARAM (oip, retransmit_interval);