diff --git a/vta/runtime/runtime.cc b/vta/runtime/runtime.cc
index b139fbda6819..c3d37a13133b 100644
--- a/vta/runtime/runtime.cc
+++ b/vta/runtime/runtime.cc
@@ -915,7 +915,7 @@ class InsnQueue : public BaseQueue<VTAGenericInsn> {
  protected:
   /*! \return Add new instruction to the buffer. */
   VTAGenericInsn* NextInsn() {
-    VTAGenericInsn insn;
+    VTAGenericInsn insn = {};
     dram_buffer_.push_back(insn);
     return &dram_buffer_.back();
   }