diff --git a/channels/chan_modem.c b/channels/chan_modem.c
index c2f3bf0f9e..d53d3958a5 100755
--- a/channels/chan_modem.c
+++ b/channels/chan_modem.c
@@ -707,8 +707,8 @@ static struct ast_modem_pvt *mkif(char *iface)
 #endif
 	
 	tmp = malloc(sizeof(struct ast_modem_pvt));
-	memset(tmp, 0, sizeof(struct ast_modem_pvt));
 	if (tmp) {
+		memset(tmp, 0, sizeof(struct ast_modem_pvt));
 		tmp->fd = open(iface, O_RDWR | O_NONBLOCK);
 		if (tmp->fd < 0) {
 			ast_log(LOG_WARNING, "Unable to open '%s'\n", iface);