diff --git a/src/crypto/crypto.cpp b/src/crypto/crypto.cpp
index 36b510a5b..a2db14e08 100644
--- a/src/crypto/crypto.cpp
+++ b/src/crypto/crypto.cpp
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ namespace crypto {
 #include "random.h"
   }
 
-  const crypto::public_key null_pkey = boost::value_initialized<crypto::public_key>();
-  const crypto::secret_key null_skey = boost::value_initialized<crypto::secret_key>();
+  const crypto::public_key null_pkey = crypto::public_key{};
+  const crypto::secret_key null_skey = crypto::secret_key{};
 
   static inline unsigned char *operator &(ec_point &point) {
     return &reinterpret_cast<unsigned char &>(point);
diff --git a/src/crypto/crypto.h b/src/crypto/crypto.h
index 492bf966e..073707876 100644
--- a/src/crypto/crypto.h
+++ b/src/crypto/crypto.h
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
 #include <iostream>
 #include <boost/thread/mutex.hpp>
 #include <boost/thread/lock_guard.hpp>
-#include <boost/utility/value_init.hpp>
 #include <boost/optional.hpp>
 #include <type_traits>
 #include <vector>
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/crypto.cpp b/tests/unit_tests/crypto.cpp
index 4bed06173..9e1680568 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/crypto.cpp
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/crypto.cpp
@@ -73,3 +73,11 @@ TEST(Crypto, Ostream)
   EXPECT_TRUE(is_formatted<crypto::key_derivation>());
   EXPECT_TRUE(is_formatted<crypto::key_image>());
 }
+
+TEST(Crypto, null_keys)
+{
+  char zero[32];
+  memset(zero, 0, 32);
+  ASSERT_EQ(memcmp(crypto::null_skey.data, zero, 32), 0);
+  ASSERT_EQ(memcmp(crypto::null_pkey.data, zero, 32), 0);
+}