diff --git a/drivers/SerialBase.h b/drivers/SerialBase.h
index d2a41a46a2..9dc31512f1 100644
--- a/drivers/SerialBase.h
+++ b/drivers/SerialBase.h
@@ -329,26 +329,26 @@ protected:
 
 #if DEVICE_SERIAL_ASYNCH
     CThunk<SerialBase> _thunk_irq;
-    DMAUsage _tx_usage;
-    DMAUsage _rx_usage;
+    DMAUsage _tx_usage = DMA_USAGE_NEVER;
+    DMAUsage _rx_usage = DMA_USAGE_NEVER;
     event_callback_t _tx_callback;
     event_callback_t _rx_callback;
-    bool _tx_asynch_set;
-    bool _rx_asynch_set;
+    bool _tx_asynch_set = false;
+    bool _rx_asynch_set = false;
 #endif
 
-    serial_t         _serial;
+    serial_t         _serial {};
     Callback<void()> _irq[IrqCnt];
     int              _baud;
-    bool             _rx_enabled;
-    bool             _tx_enabled;
+    bool             _rx_enabled = true;
+    bool             _tx_enabled = true;
     const PinName    _tx_pin;
     const PinName    _rx_pin;
 
 #if DEVICE_SERIAL_FC
-    Flow             _flow_type;
-    PinName          _flow1;
-    PinName          _flow2;
+    Flow             _flow_type = Disabled;
+    PinName          _flow1 = NC;
+    PinName          _flow2 = NC;
 #endif
 
 #endif
diff --git a/drivers/source/SerialBase.cpp b/drivers/source/SerialBase.cpp
index 8172c93104..cdc8636bbf 100644
--- a/drivers/source/SerialBase.cpp
+++ b/drivers/source/SerialBase.cpp
@@ -25,20 +25,9 @@ namespace mbed {
 
 SerialBase::SerialBase(PinName tx, PinName rx, int baud) :
 #if DEVICE_SERIAL_ASYNCH
-    _thunk_irq(this), _tx_usage(DMA_USAGE_NEVER),
-    _rx_usage(DMA_USAGE_NEVER), _tx_callback(NULL),
-    _rx_callback(NULL), _tx_asynch_set(false),
-    _rx_asynch_set(false),
+    _thunk_irq(this),
 #endif
-    _serial(),
     _baud(baud),
-#if DEVICE_SERIAL_FC
-    _flow_type(Disabled),
-    _flow1(NC),
-    _flow2(NC),
-#endif
-    _rx_enabled(true),
-    _tx_enabled(true),
     _tx_pin(tx),
     _rx_pin(rx)
 {