diff --git a/drivers/net/slip.c b/drivers/net/slip.c
index a0806d262fc6530c1e72c2c75b14a999cc74e529..2f4b1de7a2b403dba05d2decc326ae4a9d83ad40 100644
--- a/drivers/net/slip.c
+++ b/drivers/net/slip.c
@@ -1343,15 +1343,12 @@ static int __init slip_init(void)
 	printk(KERN_INFO "SLIP linefill/keepalive option.\n");
 #endif
 
-	slip_devs = kmalloc(sizeof(struct net_device *)*slip_maxdev, GFP_KERNEL);
+	slip_devs = kzalloc(sizeof(struct net_device *)*slip_maxdev, GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!slip_devs) {
 		printk(KERN_ERR "SLIP: Can't allocate slip devices array!  Uaargh! (-> No SLIP available)\n");
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
-	/* Clear the pointer array, we allocate devices when we need them */
-	memset(slip_devs, 0, sizeof(struct net_device *)*slip_maxdev);
-
 	/* Fill in our line protocol discipline, and register it */
 	if ((status = tty_register_ldisc(N_SLIP, &sl_ldisc)) != 0)  {
 		printk(KERN_ERR "SLIP: can't register line discipline (err = %d)\n", status);