diff --git a/net/9p/client.c b/net/9p/client.c
index 5c1343195292..2872f3dbfd86 100644
--- a/net/9p/client.c
+++ b/net/9p/client.c
@@ -958,7 +958,7 @@ static int p9_client_version(struct p9_client *c)
 {
 	int err = 0;
 	struct p9_req_t *req;
-	char *version;
+	char *version = NULL;
 	int msize;
 
 	p9_debug(P9_DEBUG_9P, ">>> TVERSION msize %d protocol %d\n",