diff --git a/src/conf/domain_conf.c b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
index 1e78da1cf7..a9706b076a 100644
--- a/src/conf/domain_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
@@ -11354,7 +11354,7 @@ virDomainMemballoonDefParseXML(xmlNodePtr node,
                                unsigned int flags)
 {
     char *model;
-    char *deflate;
+    char *deflate = NULL;
     virDomainMemballoonDefPtr def;
     xmlNodePtr save = ctxt->node;
     unsigned int period = 0;