diff --git a/runtime/parsec/control/runtime_descriptor.c b/runtime/parsec/control/runtime_descriptor.c
index 593ae67e7716916e94e07995d8635e8d28f1c37a..d2c7cea9e4cd05c8b39e3dc64408fda199ab378b 100644
--- a/runtime/parsec/control/runtime_descriptor.c
+++ b/runtime/parsec/control/runtime_descriptor.c
@@ -238,6 +238,8 @@ void RUNTIME_desc_create( MORSE_desc_t *mdesc )
     parsec_dtd_data_collection_init(data_collection);
 
     /* arena init */
+    pdesc->arena_index = 0;
+
     /* taskpool init to bypass a requirement of PaRSEC  */
 #if defined(CHAMELEON_USE_MPI)
     parsec_dtd_taskpool_new();