diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb.cpp
index 8c5871b71c..6b8d4e428e 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb.cpp
@@ -623,6 +623,11 @@ void PairComb::read_file(char *file)
           maxparam += DELTA;
           params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                               "pair:params");
+
+          // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+          // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+          memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
         }
 
         params[nparams].ielement = ielement;
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb3.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb3.cpp
index db6caa3d40..385e3ca35d 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb3.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_comb3.cpp
@@ -559,6 +559,11 @@ void PairComb3::read_file(char *file)
           maxparam += DELTA;
           params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                               "pair:params");
+
+          // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+          // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+          memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
         }
 
         params[nparams].ielement = ielement;
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_gw.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_gw.cpp
index 9b995e4b99..0928d14696 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_gw.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_gw.cpp
@@ -413,6 +413,11 @@ void PairGW::read_file(char *file)
           maxparam += DELTA;
           params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                               "pair:params");
+
+          // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+          // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+          memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
         }
 
         params[nparams].ielement = ielement;
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_gw_zbl.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_gw_zbl.cpp
index 97c1d01b93..1a2bf5eb5d 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_gw_zbl.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_gw_zbl.cpp
@@ -107,6 +107,11 @@ void PairGWZBL::read_file(char *file)
           maxparam += DELTA;
           params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                               "pair:params");
+
+          // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+          // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+          memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
         }
 
         params[nparams].ielement = ielement;
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_nb3b_harmonic.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_nb3b_harmonic.cpp
index 6f1bfb8905..dc537a7b58 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_nb3b_harmonic.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_nb3b_harmonic.cpp
@@ -329,6 +329,11 @@ void PairNb3bHarmonic::read_file(char *file)
           maxparam += DELTA;
           params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                               "pair:params");
+
+          // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+          // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+          memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
         }
 
         params[nparams].ielement = ielement;
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_sw.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_sw.cpp
index 3445680833..f6b5a803d2 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_sw.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_sw.cpp
@@ -394,6 +394,11 @@ void PairSW::read_file(char *file)
           maxparam += DELTA;
           params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                               "pair:params");
+
+          // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+          // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+          memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
         }
 
         params[nparams].ielement = ielement;
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff.cpp
index 928550e9c5..c57740963f 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff.cpp
@@ -438,6 +438,11 @@ void PairTersoff::read_file(char *file)
           maxparam += DELTA;
           params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                               "pair:params");
+
+          // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+          // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+          memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
         }
 
         params[nparams].ielement  = ielement;
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_mod.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_mod.cpp
index 64ce66c0cf..d1ab6f2034 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_mod.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_mod.cpp
@@ -91,6 +91,11 @@ void PairTersoffMOD::read_file(char *file)
           maxparam += DELTA;
           params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                               "pair:params");
+
+          // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+          // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+          memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
         }
 
         params[nparams].ielement = ielement;
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_mod_c.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_mod_c.cpp
index c4c86577e2..ff8916cdcd 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_mod_c.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_mod_c.cpp
@@ -82,6 +82,11 @@ void PairTersoffMODC::read_file(char *file)
           maxparam += DELTA;
           params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                               "pair:params");
+
+          // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+          // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+          memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
         }
 
         params[nparams].ielement = ielement;
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_zbl.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_zbl.cpp
index ac6694ccda..141cb45964 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_zbl.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_tersoff_zbl.cpp
@@ -109,6 +109,11 @@ void PairTersoffZBL::read_file(char *file)
           maxparam += DELTA;
           params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                               "pair:params");
+
+          // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+          // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+          memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
         }
 
         params[nparams].ielement = ielement;
diff --git a/src/MANYBODY/pair_vashishta.cpp b/src/MANYBODY/pair_vashishta.cpp
index 61ee8b0fc0..815854a34b 100644
--- a/src/MANYBODY/pair_vashishta.cpp
+++ b/src/MANYBODY/pair_vashishta.cpp
@@ -400,6 +400,11 @@ void PairVashishta::read_file(char *file)
           maxparam += DELTA;
           params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                               "pair:params");
+
+          // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+          // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+          memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
         }
 
         params[nparams].ielement = ielement;
diff --git a/src/MOLECULE/pair_hbond_dreiding_lj.cpp b/src/MOLECULE/pair_hbond_dreiding_lj.cpp
index 53c3101708..647060eab7 100644
--- a/src/MOLECULE/pair_hbond_dreiding_lj.cpp
+++ b/src/MOLECULE/pair_hbond_dreiding_lj.cpp
@@ -347,6 +347,11 @@ void PairHbondDreidingLJ::coeff(int narg, char **arg)
     maxparam += CHUNK;
     params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                         "pair:params");
+
+    // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+    // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+    memset(params + nparams, 0, CHUNK*sizeof(Param));
   }
 
   params[nparams].epsilon = epsilon_one;
diff --git a/src/MOLECULE/pair_hbond_dreiding_morse.cpp b/src/MOLECULE/pair_hbond_dreiding_morse.cpp
index 3039a662e6..44eefc07fd 100644
--- a/src/MOLECULE/pair_hbond_dreiding_morse.cpp
+++ b/src/MOLECULE/pair_hbond_dreiding_morse.cpp
@@ -273,6 +273,11 @@ void PairHbondDreidingMorse::coeff(int narg, char **arg)
     maxparam += CHUNK;
     params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                         "pair:params");
+
+    // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+    // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+    memset(params + nparams, 0, CHUNK*sizeof(Param));
   }
 
   params[nparams].d0 = d0_one;
diff --git a/src/USER-DPD/pair_exp6_rx.cpp b/src/USER-DPD/pair_exp6_rx.cpp
index f13f911326..4ac491afb1 100644
--- a/src/USER-DPD/pair_exp6_rx.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-DPD/pair_exp6_rx.cpp
@@ -797,6 +797,11 @@ void PairExp6rx::read_file(char *file)
       maxparam += DELTA;
       params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                           "pair:params");
+
+      // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+      // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+      memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
     }
 
     params[nparams].ispecies = ispecies;
diff --git a/src/USER-MISC/pair_drip.cpp b/src/USER-MISC/pair_drip.cpp
index e6b0e5acc6..2e9221537a 100644
--- a/src/USER-MISC/pair_drip.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-MISC/pair_drip.cpp
@@ -302,6 +302,11 @@ void PairDRIP::read_file(char *filename)
       maxparam += DELTA;
       params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                           "pair:params");
+
+      // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+      // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+      memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
     }
 
     params[nparams].ielement = ielement;
diff --git a/src/USER-MISC/pair_edip.cpp b/src/USER-MISC/pair_edip.cpp
index d873a04c39..cfb64bb31e 100644
--- a/src/USER-MISC/pair_edip.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-MISC/pair_edip.cpp
@@ -957,6 +957,11 @@ void PairEDIP::read_file(char *file)
       maxparam += DELTA;
       params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                           "pair:params");
+
+      // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+      // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+      memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
     }
 
     params[nparams].ielement = ielement;
diff --git a/src/USER-MISC/pair_edip_multi.cpp b/src/USER-MISC/pair_edip_multi.cpp
index cfda5c1a7c..7fe620223b 100644
--- a/src/USER-MISC/pair_edip_multi.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-MISC/pair_edip_multi.cpp
@@ -723,6 +723,11 @@ void PairEDIPMulti::read_file(char *file)
       maxparam += DELTA;
       params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                           "pair:params");
+
+      // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+      // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+      memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
     }
 
     params[nparams].ielement = ielement;
diff --git a/src/USER-MISC/pair_extep.cpp b/src/USER-MISC/pair_extep.cpp
index 2036df7add..65f792b493 100644
--- a/src/USER-MISC/pair_extep.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-MISC/pair_extep.cpp
@@ -671,6 +671,11 @@ void PairExTeP::read_file(char *file)
       maxparam += DELTA;
       params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                           "pair:params");
+
+      // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+      // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+      memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
     }
 
     params[nparams].ielement = ielement;
diff --git a/src/USER-MISC/pair_ilp_graphene_hbn.cpp b/src/USER-MISC/pair_ilp_graphene_hbn.cpp
index 32689307c0..b2f659e0f4 100644
--- a/src/USER-MISC/pair_ilp_graphene_hbn.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-MISC/pair_ilp_graphene_hbn.cpp
@@ -335,6 +335,11 @@ void PairILPGrapheneHBN::read_file(char *filename)
       maxparam += DELTA;
       params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                           "pair:params");
+
+      // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+      // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+      memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
     }
 
     params[nparams].ielement = ielement;
diff --git a/src/USER-MISC/pair_kolmogorov_crespi_full.cpp b/src/USER-MISC/pair_kolmogorov_crespi_full.cpp
index f5f2a6ca01..8590e7097e 100644
--- a/src/USER-MISC/pair_kolmogorov_crespi_full.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-MISC/pair_kolmogorov_crespi_full.cpp
@@ -336,6 +336,11 @@ void PairKolmogorovCrespiFull::read_file(char *filename)
       maxparam += DELTA;
       params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                           "pair:params");
+
+      // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+      // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+      memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
     }
 
     params[nparams].ielement = ielement;
diff --git a/src/USER-MISC/pair_kolmogorov_crespi_z.cpp b/src/USER-MISC/pair_kolmogorov_crespi_z.cpp
index 07f0a766e4..4315439624 100644
--- a/src/USER-MISC/pair_kolmogorov_crespi_z.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-MISC/pair_kolmogorov_crespi_z.cpp
@@ -394,6 +394,11 @@ void PairKolmogorovCrespiZ::read_file(char *filename)
       maxparam += DELTA;
       params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                           "pair:params");
+
+      // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+      // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+      memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
     }
 
     params[nparams].ielement = ielement;
diff --git a/src/USER-MISC/pair_lebedeva_z.cpp b/src/USER-MISC/pair_lebedeva_z.cpp
index f6464153e5..53ee82274e 100644
--- a/src/USER-MISC/pair_lebedeva_z.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-MISC/pair_lebedeva_z.cpp
@@ -390,6 +390,11 @@ void PairLebedevaZ::read_file(char *filename)
       maxparam += DELTA;
       params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                           "pair:params");
+
+      // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+      // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+      memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
     }
     params[nparams].ielement = ielement;
     params[nparams].jelement = jelement;
diff --git a/src/USER-MISC/pair_tersoff_table.cpp b/src/USER-MISC/pair_tersoff_table.cpp
index 53719508ca..4df172a001 100644
--- a/src/USER-MISC/pair_tersoff_table.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-MISC/pair_tersoff_table.cpp
@@ -890,6 +890,11 @@ void PairTersoffTable::read_file(char *file)
           maxparam += DELTA;
           params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                               "pair:params");
+
+          // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+          // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+          memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
         }
 
         // some parameters are not used since only Tersoff_2 is implemented
diff --git a/src/USER-OMP/pair_tersoff_zbl_omp.cpp b/src/USER-OMP/pair_tersoff_zbl_omp.cpp
index 489baf41f1..005cd427a9 100644
--- a/src/USER-OMP/pair_tersoff_zbl_omp.cpp
+++ b/src/USER-OMP/pair_tersoff_zbl_omp.cpp
@@ -131,6 +131,10 @@ void PairTersoffZBLOMP::read_file(char *file)
           maxparam += DELTA;
           params = (Param *) memory->srealloc(params,maxparam*sizeof(Param),
                                               "pair:params");
+          // make certain all addional allocated storage is initialized
+          // to avoid false positives when checking with valgrind
+
+          memset(params + nparams, 0, DELTA*sizeof(Param));
         }
 
         params[nparams].ielement = ielement;