diff --git a/drivers/scsi/osst.c b/drivers/scsi/osst.c
index 08060fb..1197395 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/osst.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/osst.c
@@ -5778,13 +5778,12 @@
 	dev_num = i;
 
 	/* allocate a struct osst_tape for this device */
-	tpnt = kmalloc(sizeof(struct osst_tape), GFP_ATOMIC);
-	if (tpnt == NULL) {
+	tpnt = kzalloc(sizeof(struct osst_tape), GFP_ATOMIC);
+	if (!tpnt) {
 		write_unlock(&os_scsi_tapes_lock);
 		printk(KERN_ERR "osst :E: Can't allocate device descriptor, device not attached.\n");
 		goto out_put_disk;
 	}
-	memset(tpnt, 0, sizeof(struct osst_tape));
 
 	/* allocate a buffer for this device */
 	i = SDp->host->sg_tablesize;