diff --git a/gdbstub.c b/gdbstub.c
index 8afe0b701c..71aaa23da3 100644
--- a/gdbstub.c
+++ b/gdbstub.c
@@ -1707,7 +1707,7 @@ int gdbserver_start(const char *device)
         qemu_add_vm_change_state_handler(gdb_vm_state_change, NULL);
 
         /* Initialize a monitor terminal for gdb */
-        mon_chr = g_malloc0(sizeof(*mon_chr));
+        mon_chr = qemu_chr_alloc();
         mon_chr->chr_write = gdb_monitor_write;
         monitor_init(mon_chr, 0);
     } else {