diff --git a/Eigen/src/Householder/Householder.h b/Eigen/src/Householder/Householder.h
index 9ade04c19..a38d3cfca 100644
--- a/Eigen/src/Householder/Householder.h
+++ b/Eigen/src/Householder/Householder.h
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ void MatrixBase<Derived>::makeHouseholder(
   {
     tau = 0;
     beta = internal::real(c0);
+    essential.setZero();
   }
   else
   {