diff --git a/src/qcbor_decode.c b/src/qcbor_decode.c
index a5d81ac..4d8027c 100644
--- a/src/qcbor_decode.c
+++ b/src/qcbor_decode.c
@@ -733,6 +733,8 @@
    uint64_t uNumber;
    uint8_t  uAdditionalInfo;
 
+   memset(pDecodedItem, 0, sizeof(QCBORItem));
+
    nReturn = DecodeTypeAndNumber(pUInBuf, &uMajorType, &uNumber, &uAdditionalInfo);
 
    // Error out here if we got into trouble on the type and number.
@@ -741,8 +743,6 @@
       goto Done;
    }
 
-   memset(pDecodedItem, 0, sizeof(QCBORItem));
-
    // At this point the major type and the value are valid. We've got the type and the number that
    // starts every CBOR data item.
    switch (uMajorType) {