diff --git a/bfd/elf.c b/bfd/elf.c
index fe00e0f9189..7cd7febcf95 100644
--- a/bfd/elf.c
+++ b/bfd/elf.c
@@ -8918,7 +8918,9 @@ _bfd_elf_slurp_version_tables (bfd *abfd, bool default_imported_symver)
 	  bfd_set_error (bfd_error_file_too_big);
 	  goto error_return_verref;
 	}
-      elf_tdata (abfd)->verref = (Elf_Internal_Verneed *) bfd_alloc (abfd, amt);
+      if (amt == 0)
+	goto error_return_verref;
+      elf_tdata (abfd)->verref = (Elf_Internal_Verneed *) bfd_zalloc (abfd, amt);
       if (elf_tdata (abfd)->verref == NULL)
 	goto error_return_verref;
 
-- 
2.31.1