diff --git a/linux-user/elfload.c b/linux-user/elfload.c
index fb47fe39c9..7b3a2c20f2 100644
--- a/linux-user/elfload.c
+++ b/linux-user/elfload.c
@@ -4514,16 +4514,6 @@ static void fill_thread_info(struct elf_note_info *info, const CPUArchState *env
     info->notes_size += note_size(&ets->notes[0]);
 }
 
-static void init_note_info(struct elf_note_info *info)
-{
-    /* Initialize the elf_note_info structure so that it is at
-     * least safe to call free_note_info() on it. Must be
-     * called before calling fill_note_info().
-     */
-    memset(info, 0, sizeof (*info));
-    QTAILQ_INIT(&info->thread_list);
-}
-
 static int fill_note_info(struct elf_note_info *info,
                           long signr, const CPUArchState *env)
 {
@@ -4532,6 +4522,9 @@ static int fill_note_info(struct elf_note_info *info,
     TaskState *ts = (TaskState *)cpu->opaque;
     int i;
 
+    memset(info, 0, sizeof (*info));
+    QTAILQ_INIT(&info->thread_list);
+
     info->notes = g_new0(struct memelfnote, NUMNOTES);
     if (info->notes == NULL)
         return (-ENOMEM);
@@ -4665,8 +4658,6 @@ static int elf_core_dump(int signr, const CPUArchState *env)
     int segs = 0;
     int fd = -1;
 
-    init_note_info(&info);
-
     errno = 0;
 
     if (prctl(PR_GET_DUMPABLE) == 0) {