diff --git a/src/rpc/virnetserver.c b/src/rpc/virnetserver.c
index cbbc986e97..95333d0cc3 100644
--- a/src/rpc/virnetserver.c
+++ b/src/rpc/virnetserver.c
@@ -926,7 +926,7 @@ int virNetServerAddSignalHandler(virNetServerPtr srv,
                                  virNetServerSignalFunc func,
                                  void *opaque)
 {
-    virNetServerSignalPtr sigdata;
+    virNetServerSignalPtr sigdata = NULL;
     struct sigaction sig_action;
 
     virObjectLock(srv);