diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index e5f6988019..c24f39c430 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -4512,7 +4512,7 @@ qemuDomainGetVcpusFlags(virDomainPtr dom, unsigned int flags)
     int ret = -1;
     virCapsPtr caps = NULL;
     qemuAgentCPUInfoPtr cpuinfo = NULL;
-    int ncpuinfo;
+    int ncpuinfo = -1;
     int i;
 
     virCheckFlags(VIR_DOMAIN_AFFECT_LIVE |