diff --git a/libraries/AP_MultiHeap/MultiHeap_malloc.cpp b/libraries/AP_MultiHeap/MultiHeap_malloc.cpp
index 857d01e76bfc82..65f1698380ff9c 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_MultiHeap/MultiHeap_malloc.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_MultiHeap/MultiHeap_malloc.cpp
@@ -36,9 +36,10 @@ void *MultiHeap::heap_create(uint32_t size)
 {
     struct heap *new_heap = (struct heap*)malloc(sizeof(struct heap));
     if (new_heap != nullptr) {
+        new_heap->magic = HEAP_MAGIC;
         new_heap->max_heap_size = size;
+        new_heap->current_heap_usage = 0;
     }
-    new_heap->magic = HEAP_MAGIC;
     return (void *)new_heap;
 }