diff --git a/libcxx/include/string b/libcxx/include/string
--- a/libcxx/include/string
+++ b/libcxx/include/string
@@ -1558,9 +1558,8 @@
     _LIBCPP_INLINE_VISIBILITY
     void __zero() _NOEXCEPT
         {
-            size_type (&__a)[__n_words] = __r_.first().__r.__words;
             for (unsigned __i = 0; __i < __n_words; ++__i)
-                __a[__i] = 0;
+                __r_.first().__r.__words[__i] = 0;
         }
 
     template <size_type __a> static