diff --git a/sdk/src/common/system.rs b/sdk/src/common/system.rs
index 96b06eae3..9f9b9e2b8 100644
--- a/sdk/src/common/system.rs
+++ b/sdk/src/common/system.rs
@@ -144,7 +144,10 @@ fn populate_event_tape(self_prog_id: ProgramIdentifier) -> EventTapeType {
     event_tape_read(&mut len_bytes);
 
     let len: usize = u32::from_le_bytes(len_bytes).try_into().unwrap();
-    let buf: &'static mut Vec<u8> = Box::leak(Box::new(vec![0; len]));
+    let buf: &'static mut AlignedVec = Box::leak(Box::new(AlignedVec::with_capacity(len)));
+    unsafe {
+        buf.set_len(len);
+    }
     event_tape_read(buf);
 
     let canonical_ordered_temporal_hints =