diff --git a/examples/peripherals/gpio/main/gpio_example_main.c b/examples/peripherals/gpio/main/gpio_example_main.c
index 9609daf799..b0665884f4 100644
--- a/examples/peripherals/gpio/main/gpio_example_main.c
+++ b/examples/peripherals/gpio/main/gpio_example_main.c
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ static void gpio_task_example(void* arg)
 
 void app_main(void)
 {
-    gpio_config_t io_conf;
+    //zero-initialize the config structure.
+    gpio_config_t io_conf = {};
     //disable interrupt
     io_conf.intr_type = GPIO_PIN_INTR_DISABLE;
     //set as output mode