diff --git a/project/Core/Src/mug.c b/project/Core/Src/mug.c
index 3dc8522..9553afe 100644
--- a/project/Core/Src/mug.c
+++ b/project/Core/Src/mug.c
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ static void mqtt_pub_request_cb(void *arg, err_t result) {
  */
 static void example_publish(mqtt_client_t *client, void *arg) {
     LOG_INFO(TAG, "Entering publish");
-    char pub_payload[200];
+    char pub_payload[200] = {0};
     err_t err;
     u8_t qos = 2;
     u8_t retain = 1	;
@@ -57,8 +57,6 @@ static void example_publish(mqtt_client_t *client, void *arg) {
 
     num_files = llfs_file_list(file_list, max_files, "*.bmp");
 
-    strcpy(pub_payload, "\0");
-
     if(num_files == 0) {
         strcpy(pub_payload, "No images found");
     } else {