diff --git a/src/Utilities/functions.jl b/src/Utilities/functions.jl
index 81895d1947..c8091464b4 100644
--- a/src/Utilities/functions.jl
+++ b/src/Utilities/functions.jl
@@ -547,6 +547,14 @@ end
 
 # Arithmetic
 
+function Base.zero(::Type{MOI.ScalarAffineFunction{T}}) where T
+    return MOI.ScalarAffineFunction(MOI.ScalarAffineTerm{T}[], zero(T))
+end
+function Base.zero(::Type{MOI.ScalarQuadraticFunction{T}}) where T
+    return MOI.ScalarQuadraticFunction(MOI.ScalarAffineTerm{T}[],
+                                       MOI.ScalarQuadraticTerm{T}[], zero(T))
+end
+
 """
     operate(op::Function, ::Type{T},
             args::Union{T, MOI.AbstractFunction}...)::MOI.AbstractFunction where T
diff --git a/test/Utilities/functions.jl b/test/Utilities/functions.jl
index 8590286787..bf71cb4bf1 100644
--- a/test/Utilities/functions.jl
+++ b/test/Utilities/functions.jl
@@ -155,6 +155,10 @@
     end
     @testset "Scalar" begin
         @testset "Affine" begin
+            @testset "zero" begin
+                f = @inferred MOIU.zero(MOI.ScalarAffineFunction{Float64})
+                @test MOIU.isapprox_zero(f, 1e-16)
+            end
             @testset "promote_operation" begin
                 @test MOIU.promote_operation(+, Float64, MOI.SingleVariable,
                                              MOI.SingleVariable) == MOI.ScalarAffineFunction{Float64}
@@ -225,6 +229,10 @@
             end
         end
         @testset "Quadratic" begin
+            @testset "zero" begin
+                f = @inferred MOIU.zero(MOI.ScalarQuadraticFunction{Float64})
+                @test MOIU.isapprox_zero(f, 1e-16)
+            end
             @testset "promote_operation" begin
                 @test MOIU.promote_operation(+, Int,
                                              MOI.ScalarQuadraticFunction{Int},