diff --git a/src/nm-device-ethernet.c b/src/nm-device-ethernet.c
index 13139542fa..00e8a2167a 100644
--- a/src/nm-device-ethernet.c
+++ b/src/nm-device-ethernet.c
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ _update_s390_subchannels (NMDeviceEthernet *self)
 	const char *iface;
 	GUdevClient *client;
 	GUdevDevice *dev;
-	GUdevDevice *parent;
+	GUdevDevice *parent = NULL;
 	const char *parent_path, *item, *driver;
 	const char *subsystems[] = { "net", NULL };
 	GDir *dir;