diff --git a/tools/virsh.c b/tools/virsh.c
index 630b77f104..d45a4c917e 100644
--- a/tools/virsh.c
+++ b/tools/virsh.c
@@ -14826,7 +14826,7 @@ cmdDetachDisk(vshControl *ctl, const vshCmd *cmd)
     char *disk_xml = NULL;
     virDomainPtr dom = NULL;
     const char *target = NULL;
-    char *doc;
+    char *doc = NULL;
     int ret;
     bool functionReturn = false;
     unsigned int flags;