diff --git a/gl/lib/randread.c b/gl/lib/randread.c
index 8e6b1c5b8..ccad16bc3 100644
--- a/gl/lib/randread.c
+++ b/gl/lib/randread.c
@@ -132,7 +132,13 @@ static struct randread_source *
 simple_new (FILE *source, void const *handler_arg)
 {
   struct randread_source *s = xmalloc (sizeof *s);
+  #ifdef __e2k__
+  if (sizeof(void*) == 16)
+  {
+    // In E2K protected mode uninitialized memory can't be used
+    memset(s, 0, sizeof *s);
+  }
+  #endif
   s->source = source;
   s->handler = randread_error;
   s->handler_arg = handler_arg;