diff --git a/hw/net/virtio-net.c b/hw/net/virtio-net.c
index b544d2e91a..44ea72b50e 100644
--- a/hw/net/virtio-net.c
+++ b/hw/net/virtio-net.c
@@ -1911,6 +1911,8 @@ static ssize_t virtio_net_receive_rcu(NetClientState *nc, const uint8_t *buf,
     size_t offset, i, guest_offset, j;
     ssize_t err;
 
+    memset(&extra_hdr, 0, sizeof(extra_hdr));
+
     if (n->rss_data.enabled && n->rss_data.enabled_software_rss) {
         int index = virtio_net_process_rss(nc, buf, size, &extra_hdr);
         if (index >= 0) {