diff --git a/src/core/lib/surface/server.cc b/src/core/lib/surface/server.cc
index 93b19338098..5dc81b29bb7 100644
--- a/src/core/lib/surface/server.cc
+++ b/src/core/lib/surface/server.cc
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@
 
 grpc_core::TraceFlag grpc_server_channel_trace(false, "server_channel");
 
+static void server_on_recv_initial_metadata(void* ptr, grpc_error* error);
+static void server_recv_trailing_metadata_ready(void* user_data,
+                                                grpc_error* error);
+
 namespace {
 struct listener {
   void* arg;
@@ -128,38 +132,62 @@ typedef enum {
 typedef struct request_matcher request_matcher;
 
 struct call_data {
+  call_data(grpc_call_element* elem, const grpc_call_element_args& args)
+      : call(grpc_call_from_top_element(elem)),
+        call_combiner(args.call_combiner) {
+    GRPC_CLOSURE_INIT(&server_on_recv_initial_metadata,
+                      ::server_on_recv_initial_metadata, elem,
+                      grpc_schedule_on_exec_ctx);
+    GRPC_CLOSURE_INIT(&recv_trailing_metadata_ready,
+                      server_recv_trailing_metadata_ready, elem,
+                      grpc_schedule_on_exec_ctx);
+  }
+  ~call_data() {
+    GPR_ASSERT(state != PENDING);
+    GRPC_ERROR_UNREF(recv_initial_metadata_error);
+    if (host_set) {
+      grpc_slice_unref_internal(host);
+    }
+    if (path_set) {
+      grpc_slice_unref_internal(path);
+    }
+    grpc_metadata_array_destroy(&initial_metadata);
+    grpc_byte_buffer_destroy(payload);
+  }
+
   grpc_call* call;
 
-  gpr_atm state;
+  gpr_atm state = NOT_STARTED;
 
-  bool path_set;
-  bool host_set;
+  bool path_set = false;
+  bool host_set = false;
   grpc_slice path;
   grpc_slice host;
-  grpc_millis deadline;
+  grpc_millis deadline = GRPC_MILLIS_INF_FUTURE;
 
-  grpc_completion_queue* cq_new;
+  grpc_completion_queue* cq_new = nullptr;
 
-  grpc_metadata_batch* recv_initial_metadata;
-  uint32_t recv_initial_metadata_flags;
-  grpc_metadata_array initial_metadata;
+  grpc_metadata_batch* recv_initial_metadata = nullptr;
+  uint32_t recv_initial_metadata_flags = 0;
+  grpc_metadata_array initial_metadata =
+      grpc_metadata_array();  // Zero-initialize the C struct.
 
-  request_matcher* matcher;
-  grpc_byte_buffer* payload;
+  request_matcher* matcher = nullptr;
+  grpc_byte_buffer* payload = nullptr;
 
   grpc_closure got_initial_metadata;
   grpc_closure server_on_recv_initial_metadata;
   grpc_closure kill_zombie_closure;
   grpc_closure* on_done_recv_initial_metadata;
   grpc_closure recv_trailing_metadata_ready;
-  grpc_error* recv_initial_metadata_error;
+  grpc_error* recv_initial_metadata_error = GRPC_ERROR_NONE;
   grpc_closure* original_recv_trailing_metadata_ready;
-  grpc_error* recv_trailing_metadata_error;
-  bool seen_recv_trailing_metadata_ready;
+  grpc_error* recv_trailing_metadata_error = GRPC_ERROR_NONE;
+  bool seen_recv_trailing_metadata_ready = false;
 
   grpc_closure publish;
 
-  call_data* pending_next;
+  call_data* pending_next = nullptr;
   grpc_call_combiner* call_combiner;
 };
 
@@ -875,40 +903,18 @@ static void channel_connectivity_changed(void* cd, grpc_error* error) {
 
 static grpc_error* init_call_elem(grpc_call_element* elem,
                                   const grpc_call_element_args* args) {
-  call_data* calld = static_cast<call_data*>(elem->call_data);
   channel_data* chand = static_cast<channel_data*>(elem->channel_data);
-  memset(calld, 0, sizeof(call_data));
-  calld->deadline = GRPC_MILLIS_INF_FUTURE;
-  calld->call = grpc_call_from_top_element(elem);
-  calld->call_combiner = args->call_combiner;
-
-  GRPC_CLOSURE_INIT(&calld->server_on_recv_initial_metadata,
-                    server_on_recv_initial_metadata, elem,
-                    grpc_schedule_on_exec_ctx);
-  GRPC_CLOSURE_INIT(&calld->recv_trailing_metadata_ready,
-                    server_recv_trailing_metadata_ready, elem,
-                    grpc_schedule_on_exec_ctx);
   server_ref(chand->server);
+  new (elem->call_data) call_data(elem, *args);
   return GRPC_ERROR_NONE;
 }
 
 static void destroy_call_elem(grpc_call_element* elem,
                               const grpc_call_final_info* final_info,
                               grpc_closure* ignored) {
-  channel_data* chand = static_cast<channel_data*>(elem->channel_data);
   call_data* calld = static_cast<call_data*>(elem->call_data);
-
-  GPR_ASSERT(calld->state != PENDING);
-  GRPC_ERROR_UNREF(calld->recv_initial_metadata_error);
-  if (calld->host_set) {
-    grpc_slice_unref_internal(calld->host);
-  }
-  if (calld->path_set) {
-    grpc_slice_unref_internal(calld->path);
-  }
-  grpc_metadata_array_destroy(&calld->initial_metadata);
-  grpc_byte_buffer_destroy(calld->payload);
-
+  calld->~call_data();
+  channel_data* chand = static_cast<channel_data*>(elem->channel_data);
   server_unref(chand->server);
 }