diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index b3426e03d0..d451f45dc5 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -151,8 +151,8 @@ QEMUClockType rtc_clock;
 int vga_interface_type = VGA_NONE;
 static DisplayOptions dpy;
 int no_frame;
-static int num_serial_hds = 0;
-static Chardev **serial_hds = NULL;
+static int num_serial_hds;
+static Chardev **serial_hds;
 Chardev *parallel_hds[MAX_PARALLEL_PORTS];
 Chardev *virtcon_hds[MAX_VIRTIO_CONSOLES];
 int win2k_install_hack = 0;