--- a/libc/inet/resolv.c
+++ b/libc/inet/resolv.c
@@ -1634,6 +1634,7 @@ int attribute_hidden __read_etc_hosts_r(
 	 * struct in[6]_addr
 	 * char line_buffer[BUFSZ+];
 	 */
+	memset(buf, 0, buflen);
 	parser->data = buf;
 	parser->data_len = aliaslen;
 	parser->line_len = buflen - aliaslen;
