diff --git a/src/hotspot/share/gc/shared/space.cpp b/src/hotspot/share/gc/shared/space.cpp
index 84ba21527fd..093fa4432e2 100644
--- a/src/hotspot/share/gc/shared/space.cpp
+++ b/src/hotspot/share/gc/shared/space.cpp
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ void ContiguousSpace::initialize(MemRegion mr,
   set_bottom(bottom);
   set_end(end);
   if (clear_space) {
-    clear(SpaceDecorator::DontMangle);
+    set_top(bottom);
   }
   if (ZapUnusedHeapArea) {
     mangle_unused_area();