diff --git a/src/emu/cpu/esrip/esrip.c b/src/emu/cpu/esrip/esrip.c
index 2477640d0dc..f12e2d38b7e 100644
--- a/src/emu/cpu/esrip/esrip.c
+++ b/src/emu/cpu/esrip/esrip.c
@@ -295,6 +295,7 @@ void esrip_device::device_start()
 
 	// set our instruction counter
 	m_icountptr = &m_icount;
+	m_icount = 0;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/emu/cpu/h6280/h6280.c b/src/emu/cpu/h6280/h6280.c
index 05e20d767b4..2684b25b1f1 100644
--- a/src/emu/cpu/h6280/h6280.c
+++ b/src/emu/cpu/h6280/h6280.c
@@ -226,6 +226,7 @@ void h6280_device::device_start()
 
 	// set our instruction counter
 	m_icountptr = &m_icount;
+	m_icount = 0;
 }
 
 void h6280_device::device_reset()