diff --git a/shared/nm-utils/nm-udev-utils.c b/shared/nm-utils/nm-udev-utils.c
index 5552d592db..bf0ad5b931 100644
--- a/shared/nm-utils/nm-udev-utils.c
+++ b/shared/nm-utils/nm-udev-utils.c
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ nm_udev_utils_enumerate (struct udev *uclient,
 		for (n = 0; subsystems[n]; n++) {
 			const char *subsystem;
 			const char *devtype;
-			gs_free char *to_free;
+			gs_free char *to_free = NULL;
 
 			_subsystem_split (subsystems[n], &subsystem, &devtype, &to_free);
 
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ nm_udev_client_new (const char *const*subsystems,
 			/* install subsystem filters to only wake up for certain events */
 			for (n = 0; self->subsystems[n]; n++) {
 				if (self->monitor) {
-					gs_free char *to_free;
+					gs_free char *to_free = NULL;
 					const char *subsystem;
 					const char *devtype;