diff --git a/tools/perf/util/synthetic-events.c b/tools/perf/util/synthetic-events.c
index 7f884d70de81..0a7f93ae76fb 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/synthetic-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/synthetic-events.c
@@ -2200,7 +2200,7 @@ int perf_event__synthesize_tracing_data(const struct perf_tool *tool, int fd, st
 	if (!tdata)
 		return -1;
 
-	memset(&ev, 0, sizeof(ev));
+	memset(&ev, 0, sizeof(ev.tracing_data));
 
 	ev.tracing_data.header.type = PERF_RECORD_HEADER_TRACING_DATA;
 	size = tdata->size;