diff --git a/scripts/coverity-scan/model.c b/scripts/coverity-scan/model.c
index 9d4fba53d9..686d1a3008 100644
--- a/scripts/coverity-scan/model.c
+++ b/scripts/coverity-scan/model.c
@@ -356,7 +356,8 @@ int g_poll (GPollFD *fds, unsigned nfds, int timeout)
 typedef struct _GIOChannel GIOChannel;
 GIOChannel *g_io_channel_unix_new(int fd)
 {
-    GIOChannel *c = g_malloc0(sizeof(GIOChannel));
+    /* cannot use incomplete type, the actual struct is roughly this size.  */
+    GIOChannel *c = g_malloc0(20 * sizeof(void *));
     __coverity_escape__(fd);
     return c;
 }