diff --git a/src/libsystemd-network/lldp-internal.c b/src/libsystemd-network/lldp-internal.c
index d03445b1e2a..f843fd256dd 100644
--- a/src/libsystemd-network/lldp-internal.c
+++ b/src/libsystemd-network/lldp-internal.c
@@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ int lldp_chassis_new(tlv_packet *tlv,
                      Prioq *by_expiry,
                      Hashmap *neighbour_mib,
                      lldp_chassis **ret) {
-        _cleanup_lldp_chassis_free_ lldp_chassis *c;
+        _cleanup_lldp_chassis_free_ lldp_chassis *c = NULL;
         uint16_t length;
         uint8_t *data;
         uint8_t type;