diff --git a/src/lib/commands/laun.c b/src/lib/commands/laun.c
index b5fd9db1..8f6b58f0 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/laun.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/laun.c
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ msl_equip(struct plnstr *pp, char mission)
 {
     struct plist pl;
 
-    memset(&pl, 0, sizeof(struct plist));
+    pl.load = 0;
     pl.pcp = plchr + pp->pln_type;
     pl.plane = *pp;
     emp_initque(&pl.queue);
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/mission.c b/src/lib/subs/mission.c
index 9a23a2bf..75fe7c1a 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/mission.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/mission.c
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ find_escorts(coord x, coord y, natid cn, struct emp_qelem *escorts)
 	if (!in_oparea((struct empobj *)&plane, x, y))
 	    continue;
 	plp = malloc(sizeof(struct plist));
-	memset(plp, 0, sizeof(struct plist));
+	plp->load = 0;
 	plp->pcp = &plchr[(int)plane.pln_type];
 	plp->plane = plane;
 	emp_insque(&plp->queue, escorts);
@@ -371,8 +371,7 @@ perform_mission(coord x, coord y, natid victim, struct emp_qelem *list,
 	    else {
 		/* save planes for later */
 		plp = malloc(sizeof(struct plist));
-
-		memset(plp, 0, sizeof(struct plist));
+		plp->load = 0;
 		plp->pcp = pcp;
 		memcpy(&plp->plane, glp->thing, sizeof(struct plnstr));
 		if (plp->pcp->pl_flags & P_M)