diff --git a/quark.c b/quark.c
index ec58261..9e9c151 100644
--- a/quark.c
+++ b/quark.c
@@ -176,6 +176,9 @@ getrequest(int fd, struct request *r)
 	ssize_t off;
 	char h[HEADER_MAX], *p, *q;
 
+	/* empty all fields */
+	memset(r, 0, sizeof(*r));
+
 	/*
 	 * receive header
 	 */
@@ -264,11 +267,6 @@ getrequest(int fd, struct request *r)
 	 * parse request-fields
 	 */
 
-	/* empty all fields */
-	for (i = 0; i < NUM_REQ_FIELDS; i++) {
-		r->field[i][0] = '\0';
-	}
-
 	/* match field type */
 	for (; *p != '\0';) {
 		for (i = 0; i < NUM_REQ_FIELDS; i++) {