diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-buildid-cache.c b/tools/perf/builtin-buildid-cache.c
index 29f24c071bc6..77d5cae54c6a 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-buildid-cache.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-buildid-cache.c
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ int cmd_buildid_cache(int argc, const char **argv,
 		   *remove_name_list_str = NULL,
 		   *missing_filename = NULL,
 		   *update_name_list_str = NULL,
-		   *kcore_filename;
+		   *kcore_filename = NULL;
 	char sbuf[STRERR_BUFSIZE];
 
 	struct perf_data_file file = {