Memory state indicator

Aspects include a computer-implemented method that includes receiving an instruction at a processor, the instruction associated with a memory block having an address, and accessing a state indicator by the processor. The state indicator indicates whether the memory block is in a pre-defined state, and the state indicator is accessible by the processor independent of the memory block. The method also includes, based on the state indicator indicating that the memory block is in the pre-defined state, inspecting a subset of data values in the memory block, and identifying the pre-defined state of the memory block based on the subset of data values.