diff --git a/src/dhcp/nm-dhcp-systemd.c b/src/dhcp/nm-dhcp-systemd.c
index b657a42118..cd2a00c713 100644
--- a/src/dhcp/nm-dhcp-systemd.c
+++ b/src/dhcp/nm-dhcp-systemd.c
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ dhcp_event_cb (sd_dhcp_client *client, int event, gpointer user_data)
 	NMDhcpSystemd *self = NM_DHCP_SYSTEMD (user_data);
 	NMDhcpSystemdPrivate *priv = NM_DHCP_SYSTEMD_GET_PRIVATE (self);
 	char addr_str[INET_ADDRSTRLEN];
-	sd_dhcp_lease *lease;
+	sd_dhcp_lease *lease = NULL;
 	struct in_addr addr;
 	int r;