diff --git a/src/core/thread/mle.cpp b/src/core/thread/mle.cpp
index 7c07754d1..3c7faea6e 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mle.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mle.cpp
@@ -114,8 +114,8 @@ Mle::Mle(Instance &aInstance)
 {
     otMeshLocalPrefix meshLocalPrefix;
 
-    memset(&mLeaderData, 0, sizeof(mLeaderData));
-    memset(&mParentLeaderData, 0, sizeof(mParentLeaderData));
+    mLeaderData.Clear();
+    mParentLeaderData.Clear();
     mParent.Clear();
     memset(&mChildIdRequest, 0, sizeof(mChildIdRequest));
     mParentCandidate.Clear();
diff --git a/src/core/thread/mle_tlvs.hpp b/src/core/thread/mle_tlvs.hpp
index e54582149..b69d985e3 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mle_tlvs.hpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mle_tlvs.hpp
@@ -976,6 +976,12 @@ OT_TOOL_PACKED_BEGIN
 class LeaderDataTlv : public Tlv
 {
 public:
+    /**
+     * This method clears the object (setting all fields to zero).
+     *
+     */
+    void Clear(void) { memset(this, 0, sizeof(*this)); }
+
     /**
      * This method initializes the TLV.
      *