diff --git a/src/deh_soc.c b/src/deh_soc.c
index 07d3346e909391315fef23e8c87717f433c28f49..302335761027d03c48344dcbafa2e088f232b9f8 100644
--- a/src/deh_soc.c
+++ b/src/deh_soc.c
@@ -1168,8 +1168,7 @@ void readgametype(MYFILE *f, INT32 num)
 	UINT8 newgtleftcolor, newgtrightcolor;
 	boolean has_desc_colors[2] = { false, false };
 
-	memset(gtconst, 0, sizeof(gtconst));
-	memset(gtdescription, 0, sizeof(gtconst));
+	gtconst[0] = '\0';
 
 	strcpy(gtdescription, "???");