diff --git a/common/utils/T/local_tracer.c b/common/utils/T/local_tracer.c
index 4be0b35d16..253a64ee1e 100644
--- a/common/utils/T/local_tracer.c
+++ b/common/utils/T/local_tracer.c
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ static int get_connection(char *addr, int port) {
   socklen_t alen;
   int s, t;
   printf("T tracer: waiting for connection on %s:%d\n", addr, port);
+  memset(&a,0,sizeof(struct sockaddr_in));
   s = socket(AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
 
   if (s == -1) {