diff --git a/src/network/networkd.c b/src/network/networkd.c
index 1d433612012..360afba9860 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd.c
+++ b/src/network/networkd.c
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 #include "networkd.h"
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
-        _cleanup_manager_free_ Manager *m;
+        _cleanup_manager_free_ Manager *m = NULL;
         int r;
 
         log_set_target(LOG_TARGET_AUTO);