diff --git a/src/frontend/dvec.c b/src/frontend/dvec.c
index f2d0e980b..30395a94f 100644
--- a/src/frontend/dvec.c
+++ b/src/frontend/dvec.c
@@ -12,5 +12,7 @@ dvec_alloc(void)
 
     ZERO(rv, struct dvec);
 
+    rv->v_numdims = 0;
+
     return rv;
 }
diff --git a/src/frontend/rawfile.c b/src/frontend/rawfile.c
index 7aace4f41..e6f42f30f 100644
--- a/src/frontend/rawfile.c
+++ b/src/frontend/rawfile.c
@@ -476,7 +476,6 @@ raw_read(char *name) {
                     v->v_realdata = TMALLOC(double, npoints);
                 else
                     v->v_compdata = TMALLOC(ngcomplex_t, npoints);
-                v->v_numdims = 0;
                 /* Length and dims might be changed by options. */
 
                 v->v_plot = curpl;