diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_monitor_json.c b/src/qemu/qemu_monitor_json.c
index 0c011d31b0..d95198bc1f 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_monitor_json.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_monitor_json.c
@@ -4281,7 +4281,7 @@ qemuMonitorJSONGetCommandLineOptionParameters(qemuMonitorPtr mon,
                                               char ***params)
 {
     int ret;
-    virJSONValuePtr cmd;
+    virJSONValuePtr cmd = NULL;
     virJSONValuePtr reply = NULL;
     virJSONValuePtr data = NULL;
     virJSONValuePtr array = NULL;