diff --git a/src/nm-device.c b/src/nm-device.c
index 63e0dcfa6..47dac720c 100644
--- a/src/nm-device.c
+++ b/src/nm-device.c
@@ -384,10 +384,10 @@ device_get_driver_info (const char *iface, char **driver_version, char **firmwar
 	}
 
 	/* Get driver and firmware version info */
+	memset (&drvinfo, 0, sizeof (drvinfo));
 	memset (&req, 0, sizeof (struct ifreq));
 	strncpy (req.ifr_name, iface, IFNAMSIZ);
 	drvinfo.cmd = ETHTOOL_GDRVINFO;
-	memset (&drvinfo, 0, sizeof (drvinfo));
 	req.ifr_data = &drvinfo;
 
 	errno = 0;