diff --git a/src/dnsmasq-manager/nm-dnsmasq-manager.c b/src/dnsmasq-manager/nm-dnsmasq-manager.c
index 50e8afd696..3229a81072 100644
--- a/src/dnsmasq-manager/nm-dnsmasq-manager.c
+++ b/src/dnsmasq-manager/nm-dnsmasq-manager.c
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ nm_find_dnsmasq (void)
 static void
 dm_exit_code (guint dm_exit_status)
 {
-	const char *msg;
+	char *msg = "Unknown error";
 
 	switch (dm_exit_status) {
 	case 1: