diff --git a/src/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu_driver.c
index 00dc6e5ba7..d2db1a2425 100644
--- a/src/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu_driver.c
@@ -874,7 +874,7 @@ qemudOpenMonitorUnix(virConnectPtr conn,
     struct sockaddr_un addr;
     int monfd;
     int timeout = 3; /* In seconds */
-    int ret, i;
+    int ret, i = 0;
 
     if ((monfd = socket(AF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM, 0)) < 0) {
         virReportSystemError(conn, errno,