diff --git a/src/ip6-manager/nm-ip6-manager.c b/src/ip6-manager/nm-ip6-manager.c
index 4ea9538d5b..d5afcbc048 100644
--- a/src/ip6-manager/nm-ip6-manager.c
+++ b/src/ip6-manager/nm-ip6-manager.c
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ nm_ip6_device_destroy (NMIP6Device *device)
 static gboolean
 get_proc_sys_net_value (const char *path, const char *iface, guint32 *out_value)
 {
-	GError *error;
+	GError *error = NULL;
 	char *contents = NULL;
 	gboolean success = FALSE;
 	long int tmp;