diff --git a/pico/tts/svox_ssml_parser.cpp b/pico/tts/svox_ssml_parser.cpp
index 1e86940..94cd25a 100755
--- a/pico/tts/svox_ssml_parser.cpp
+++ b/pico/tts/svox_ssml_parser.cpp
@@ -57,7 +57,12 @@
         XML_SetUserData(mParser, (void*)this);
         m_datasize = 512;
         m_data = new char[m_datasize];
-        m_data[0] = '\0';
+        if (!m_data)
+        {
+            ALOGE("Error: failed to allocate memory for string!\n");
+        } else {
+            memset(m_data, 0, m_datasize);
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -120,6 +125,8 @@
             {
                 ALOGE("Error: failed to allocate memory for string!\n");
                 return;
+            } else {
+                memset(m_data, 0, m_datasize);
             }
         }