diff --git a/libvips/arithmetic/avg.c b/libvips/arithmetic/avg.c
index edab95dc..f52ee598 100644
--- a/libvips/arithmetic/avg.c
+++ b/libvips/arithmetic/avg.c
@@ -130,12 +130,7 @@ vips_avg_build( VipsObject *object )
 static void *
 vips_avg_start( VipsStatistic *statistic )
 {
-	double *sum;
-
-	sum = g_new( double, 1 );
-	*sum = 0.0;
-
-	return( (void *) sum );
+	return( (void *) g_new0( double, 1 ) );
 }
 
 /* Stop function. Add this little sum to the main sum.
diff --git a/libvips/arithmetic/deviate.c b/libvips/arithmetic/deviate.c
index ed52c0c4..9e12d6a6 100644
--- a/libvips/arithmetic/deviate.c
+++ b/libvips/arithmetic/deviate.c
@@ -145,13 +145,7 @@ vips_deviate_build( VipsObject *object )
 static void *
 vips_deviate_start( VipsStatistic *statistic )
 {
-	double *ss2;
-
-	ss2 = g_new( double, 2 );
-	ss2[0] = 0.0;
-	ss2[1] = 0.0;
-
-	return( (void *) ss2 );
+	return( (void *) g_new0( double, 2 ) );
 }
 
 /* Stop function. Add this little sum to the main sum.