diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/memfd/memfd_test.c b/tools/testing/selftests/memfd/memfd_test.c
index 2ca07ea7202a..cdab3a837624 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/memfd/memfd_test.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/memfd/memfd_test.c
@@ -688,9 +688,9 @@ static void mfd_assert_grow_write(int fd)
 	if (hugetlbfs_test)
 		return;
 
-	buf = malloc(mfd_def_size * 8);
+	buf = calloc(1, mfd_def_size * 8);
 	if (!buf) {
-		printf("malloc(%zu) failed: %m\n", mfd_def_size * 8);
+		printf("calloc(1, %zu) failed: %m\n", mfd_def_size * 8);
 		abort();
 	}