diff --git a/src/h5core/h5t_model_tetm.c b/src/h5core/h5t_model_tetm.c
index 82d4bc2..2826d97 100644
--- a/src/h5core/h5t_model_tetm.c
+++ b/src/h5core/h5t_model_tetm.c
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ h5t_open_tetrahedral_mesh (
 		     TETRAHEDRAL_MESHES_GRPNAME,
 		     name));
 
-	TRY (*mesh = h5_alloc (NULL, sizeof(**mesh)));
+	TRY (*mesh = h5_calloc (1, sizeof(**mesh)));
 	h5t_mesh_t* m = *mesh;
 	TRY (h5tpriv_init_mesh (
 		     m,
diff --git a/src/h5core/h5t_model_trim.c b/src/h5core/h5t_model_trim.c
index e6e3e2b..d3caab6 100644
--- a/src/h5core/h5t_model_trim.c
+++ b/src/h5core/h5t_model_trim.c
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ h5t_add_triangle_mesh (
 		     TRIANGLE_MESHES_GRPNAME,
 		     name));
 
-	TRY (*mesh = h5_alloc (NULL, sizeof(**mesh)));
+	TRY (*mesh = h5_calloc (1, sizeof(**mesh)));
 	h5t_mesh_t* m = *mesh;
 	TRY (h5tpriv_init_mesh (
 		     m,