diff --git a/java/vector/src/main/java/org/apache/arrow/vector/complex/ListVector.java b/java/vector/src/main/java/org/apache/arrow/vector/complex/ListVector.java
index 13610c4f03f61..3e60c76802380 100644
--- a/java/vector/src/main/java/org/apache/arrow/vector/complex/ListVector.java
+++ b/java/vector/src/main/java/org/apache/arrow/vector/complex/ListVector.java
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ public UnionListWriter getWriter() {
   @Override
   public void allocateNew() throws OutOfMemoryException {
     super.allocateNewSafe();
+    bits.allocateNewSafe();
   }
 
   public void transferTo(ListVector target) {