diff --git a/envconf.go b/envconf.go
index f61993d..6407de4 100644
--- a/envconf.go
+++ b/envconf.go
@@ -283,6 +283,7 @@ func keySplit(key string) (left string, right string, ok bool) {
 
 func (c *Config) getRaw(key string, dtype DataType) (val cValue) {
 	val.dtype = TypeNone
+	val.binval = make([]byte, 0, 0)
 	if c.parsed {
 		key = cleanKey(key)
 		entry, ok := c.env[key]