diff --git a/src/options.cpp b/src/options.cpp
index ea4f74c9..577763bb 100644
--- a/src/options.cpp
+++ b/src/options.cpp
@@ -68,6 +68,9 @@ zmq::options_t::options_t () :
     conflate (false),
     handshake_ivl (30000)
 {
+    memset (curve_public_key, 0, CURVE_KEYSIZE);
+    memset (curve_secret_key, 0, CURVE_KEYSIZE);
+    memset (curve_server_key, 0, CURVE_KEYSIZE);
 }
 
 int zmq::options_t::setsockopt (int option_, const void *optval_,