diff --git a/lib/parallelIO/IldgIOtypes.h b/lib/parallelIO/IldgIOtypes.h
index 5b397e14..281b20f2 100644
--- a/lib/parallelIO/IldgIOtypes.h
+++ b/lib/parallelIO/IldgIOtypes.h
@@ -136,8 +136,9 @@ struct scidacRecord : Serializable {
 				  int, typesize,
 				  int, datacount);
 
-  scidacRecord() { version =1.0; }
-
+  scidacRecord()
+  : version(1.0), recordtype(0), colors(0), spins(0), typesize(0), datacount(0)
+  {}
 };
 
 ////////////////////////
diff --git a/lib/parallelIO/MetaData.h b/lib/parallelIO/MetaData.h
index ccc8b18f..55254786 100644
--- a/lib/parallelIO/MetaData.h
+++ b/lib/parallelIO/MetaData.h
@@ -81,18 +81,16 @@ namespace Grid {
 				      std::string, creation_date,
 				      std::string, archive_date,
 				      std::string, floating_point);
-      FieldMetaData(void) { 
-	nd=4;
-	dimension.resize(4);
-	boundary.resize(4);
-	scidac_checksuma=0;
-	scidac_checksumb=0;
-	checksum=0;
-      }
+      // WARNING: non-initialised values might lead to twisted parallel IO
+      // issues, std::string are fine because they initliase to size 0
+      // as per C++ standard.
+      FieldMetaData(void) 
+      : nd(4), dimension(4,0), boundary(4, ""), data_start(0),
+      link_trace(0.), plaquette(0.), checksum(0),
+      scidac_checksuma(0), scidac_checksumb(0), sequence_number(0)
+      {}
     };
 
-
-
   namespace QCD {
 
     using namespace Grid;