diff --git a/src/lib/util/chd.c b/src/lib/util/chd.c
index 8add5212a0f..c9842eb5f88 100644
--- a/src/lib/util/chd.c
+++ b/src/lib/util/chd.c
@@ -2316,7 +2316,6 @@ chd_file_compressor::chd_file_compressor()
 		m_write_hunk(0)
 {
 	// zap arrays
-	memset(m_work_item, 0, sizeof(m_work_item));
 	memset(m_codecs, 0, sizeof(m_codecs));
 
 	// allocate work queues
diff --git a/src/lib/util/chd.h b/src/lib/util/chd.h
index a30e645ccc5..872c63d46f8 100644
--- a/src/lib/util/chd.h
+++ b/src/lib/util/chd.h
@@ -516,6 +516,17 @@ private:
 	// a single work item
 	struct work_item
 	{
+		work_item()
+			: m_osd(NULL)
+			, m_compressor(NULL)
+			, m_status(WS_READY)
+			, m_data(NULL)
+			, m_compressed(NULL)
+			, m_complen(0)
+			, m_compression(0)
+			, m_codecs(NULL)
+		{ }
+	
 		osd_work_item *     m_osd;              // OSD work item running on this block
 		chd_file_compressor *m_compressor;      // pointer back to the compressor
 		volatile work_status m_status;          // current status of this item