diff --git a/softmmu/vl.c b/softmmu/vl.c
index 326c1e9080..feb4d201f3 100644
--- a/softmmu/vl.c
+++ b/softmmu/vl.c
@@ -2522,7 +2522,7 @@ static void qemu_process_help_options(void)
 
 static void qemu_maybe_daemonize(const char *pid_file)
 {
-    Error *err;
+    Error *err = NULL;
 
     os_daemonize();
     rcu_disable_atfork();