diff --git a/src/lm35/lm35.c b/src/lm35/lm35.c
index 59c0fe60..ef9de1d4 100644
--- a/src/lm35/lm35.c
+++ b/src/lm35/lm35.c
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
  */
 
 #include <assert.h>
+#include <string.h>
 #include "lm35.h"
 
 lm35_context lm35_init(int pin, float aref)
@@ -33,6 +34,8 @@ lm35_context lm35_init(int pin, float aref)
     if (!dev)
         return NULL;
 
+    memset((void *)dev, 0, sizeof(struct _lm35_context));
+
     // make sure MRAA is initialized
     int mraa_rv;
     if ((mraa_rv = mraa_init()) != MRAA_SUCCESS)