diff --git a/src/libadmin/pts/afs_ptsAdmin.c b/src/libadmin/pts/afs_ptsAdmin.c
index c74e897136..05bf37607f 100644
--- a/src/libadmin/pts/afs_ptsAdmin.c
+++ b/src/libadmin/pts/afs_ptsAdmin.c
@@ -465,6 +465,8 @@ pts_GroupOwnerChange(const void *cellHandle, const char *targetGroup,
     afs_cell_handle_p c_handle = (afs_cell_handle_p) cellHandle;
     idlist ids;
 
+    memset(&ids, 0, sizeof(ids));
+
     /*
      * Validate arguments
      */