diff --git a/system-settings/plugins/keyfile/plugin.c b/system-settings/plugins/keyfile/plugin.c
index 8df6e96925..06b83ab95d 100644
--- a/system-settings/plugins/keyfile/plugin.c
+++ b/system-settings/plugins/keyfile/plugin.c
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ static char *
 plugin_get_hostname (SCPluginKeyfile *plugin)
 {
 	GKeyFile *key_file;
-	char *hostname;
+	char *hostname = NULL;
 	GError *error = NULL;
 
 	key_file = g_key_file_new ();