diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index 2e6f3e4212..5588d93faf 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -10179,7 +10179,7 @@ static virDomainPtr qemuDomainAttach(virConnectPtr conn,
     virDomainPtr dom = NULL;
     virDomainChrSourceDefPtr monConfig = NULL;
     bool monJSON = false;
-    char *pidfile;
+    char *pidfile = NULL;
 
     virCheckFlags(0, NULL);