diff --git a/bfd/coffgen.c b/bfd/coffgen.c
index 293fce2baf3..bec1a424831 100644
--- a/bfd/coffgen.c
+++ b/bfd/coffgen.c
@@ -1092,6 +1092,7 @@ coff_write_alien_symbol (bfd *abfd,
 	memset (isym, 0, sizeof (*isym));
       return true;
     }
+  memset (dummy, 0, sizeof dummy);
   native = dummy;
   native->is_sym = true;
   native[1].is_sym = false;