diff --git a/desktop-shell/shell.c b/desktop-shell/shell.c
index 8388dc3bb..ce4b87047 100644
--- a/desktop-shell/shell.c
+++ b/desktop-shell/shell.c
@@ -4667,6 +4667,7 @@ create_shell_output(struct desktop_shell *shell,
 	shell_output->output = output;
 	shell_output->shell = shell;
 	shell_output->destroy_listener.notify = handle_output_destroy;
+	wl_list_init(&shell_output->panel_surface_listener.link);
 	wl_signal_add(&output->destroy_signal,
 		      &shell_output->destroy_listener);
 	wl_list_insert(shell->output_list.prev, &shell_output->link);