diff --git a/src/lcm1602/lcm1602.c b/src/lcm1602/lcm1602.c
index 6bb1ceef..d917206b 100644
--- a/src/lcm1602/lcm1602.c
+++ b/src/lcm1602/lcm1602.c
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ lcm1602_context lcm1602_i2c_init(int bus, int address, bool is_expander,
     if (!dev)
         return NULL;
 
+    memset((void *)dev, 0, sizeof(struct _lcm1602_context));
+
     // make sure MRAA is initialized
     int mraa_rv;
     if ((mraa_rv = mraa_init()) != MRAA_SUCCESS)
@@ -64,8 +66,6 @@ lcm1602_context lcm1602_i2c_init(int bus, int address, bool is_expander,
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    memset((void *)dev, 0, sizeof(struct _lcm1602_context));
-
     // initialize the MRAA context
 
     if (!(dev->i2c = mraa_i2c_init(bus)))
@@ -146,6 +146,8 @@ lcm1602_context lcm1602_gpio_init(uint8_t rs, uint8_t enable,
     if (!dev)
         return NULL;
 
+    memset((void *)dev, 0, sizeof(struct _lcm1602_context));
+
     // make sure MRAA is initialized
     int mraa_rv;
     if ((mraa_rv = mraa_init()) != MRAA_SUCCESS)
@@ -155,8 +157,6 @@ lcm1602_context lcm1602_gpio_init(uint8_t rs, uint8_t enable,
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    memset((void *)dev, 0, sizeof(struct _lcm1602_context));
-
     // initialize the MRAA contexts
 
     if (!(dev->gpioRS = mraa_gpio_init(rs)))