diff --git a/netlink.c b/netlink.c
index 1e15bf5..d5b86aa 100644
--- a/netlink.c
+++ b/netlink.c
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
 /* Socket in init, in target namespace, sequence (just needs to be monotonic) */
 int nl_sock	= -1;
 int nl_sock_ns	= -1;
-static int nl_seq;
+static int nl_seq = 1;
 
 /**
  * nl_sock_init_do() - Set up netlink sockets in init or target namespace