diff --git a/drivers/net/uli526x.c b/drivers/net/uli526x.c
index d626d68cb097c278b403c772ffcd45213e9fdc1d..a4624e1734df9977fe210eb57e13dcf7a6698ad8 100644
--- a/drivers/net/uli526x.c
+++ b/drivers/net/uli526x.c
@@ -225,6 +225,11 @@ int uli526x_initialize(bd_t *bis)
 		iobase &= ~0xf;
 
 		dev = (struct eth_device *)malloc(sizeof *dev);
+		if (!dev) {
+			printf("uli526x: Can not allocate memory\n");
+			break;
+		}
+		memset(dev, 0, sizeof(*dev));
 		sprintf(dev->name, "uli526x#%d", card_number);
 		db = (struct uli526x_board_info *)
 			malloc(sizeof(struct uli526x_board_info));