diff --git a/src/register/ledger-core/split-register.c b/src/register/ledger-core/split-register.c
index 322e59689b..e4bcdd185e 100644
--- a/src/register/ledger-core/split-register.c
+++ b/src/register/ledger-core/split-register.c
@@ -2372,7 +2372,7 @@ gnc_split_register_cleanup (SplitRegister *reg)
 {
    SRInfo *info = gnc_split_register_get_info (reg);
    Transaction *pending_trans;
-   Transaction *trans;
+   Transaction *trans = NULL;
    Split *blank_split;
 
    ENTER("reg=%p", reg);