diff --git a/net/core/ethtool.c b/net/core/ethtool.c
index 072c1f4998c9..e9989b835a66 100644
--- a/net/core/ethtool.c
+++ b/net/core/ethtool.c
@@ -1704,7 +1704,7 @@ static noinline_for_stack int ethtool_get_channels(struct net_device *dev,
 static noinline_for_stack int ethtool_set_channels(struct net_device *dev,
 						   void __user *useraddr)
 {
-	struct ethtool_channels channels, max;
+	struct ethtool_channels channels, max = { .cmd = ETHTOOL_GCHANNELS };
 	u32 max_rx_in_use = 0;
 
 	if (!dev->ethtool_ops->set_channels || !dev->ethtool_ops->get_channels)