diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index a4fb945bdc..69bcadf991 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -121,6 +121,9 @@ PHP                                                                        NEWS
   . Convert resource<pspell> to object \PSpell\Dictionary. (Sara)
   . Convert resource<pspell config> to object \PSpell\Config. (Sara)
 
+- readline:
+  . Fixed bug #72998 (invalid read in readline completion). (krakjoe)
+
 - Reflection:
   . Implement ReflectionFunctionAbstract::getClosureUsedVariables (krakjoe)
 
diff --git a/ext/readline/readline.c b/ext/readline/readline.c
index 14fcea0ab0..7331b43798 100644
--- a/ext/readline/readline.c
+++ b/ext/readline/readline.c
@@ -452,12 +452,12 @@ char **php_readline_completion_cb(const char *text, int start, int end)
 			if (zend_hash_num_elements(Z_ARRVAL(_readline_array))) {
 				matches = rl_completion_matches(text,_readline_command_generator);
 			} else {
-				matches = malloc(sizeof(char *) * 2);
+				/* libedit will read matches[2] */
+				matches = calloc(sizeof(char *), 3);
 				if (!matches) {
 					return NULL;
 				}
 				matches[0] = strdup("");
-				matches[1] = NULL;
 			}
 		}
 	}