diff --git a/chirp/drivers/retevis_rt22.py b/chirp/drivers/retevis_rt22.py
index ac7ef5f8..90ce681d 100644
--- a/chirp/drivers/retevis_rt22.py
+++ b/chirp/drivers/retevis_rt22.py
@@ -548,6 +548,10 @@ def set_memory(self, mem):
             _mem.set_raw("\xFF" * (_mem.size() // 8))
             return
 
+        # Initialize the memory to a known-good state
+        _mem.fill_raw(b'\x00')
+        _mem.unknown5[0] = 0x80
+
         _mem.rxfreq = mem.freq / 10
 
         if mem.duplex == "off":