diff --git a/av1/encoder/pickcdef.c b/av1/encoder/pickcdef.c
--- a/av1/encoder/pickcdef.c
+++ b/av1/encoder/pickcdef.c
@@ -874,7 +874,7 @@ void av1_cdef_search(AV1_COMP *cpi) {

   if (!cpi->cdef_search_ctx)
     CHECK_MEM_ERROR(cm, cpi->cdef_search_ctx,
-                    aom_malloc(sizeof(*cpi->cdef_search_ctx)));
+                    aom_calloc(1, sizeof(*cpi->cdef_search_ctx)));
   CdefSearchCtx *cdef_search_ctx = cpi->cdef_search_ctx;

   // Initialize parameters related to CDEF search context.