diff --git a/core.c b/core.c
index 72b511c..3e2e02e 100644
--- a/core.c
+++ b/core.c
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@
 	buf->start = MCTP_PKTBUF_BINDING_PAD;
 	buf->end = buf->start + len;
 	buf->mctp_hdr_off = buf->start;
+	buf->next = NULL;
 
 	return buf;
 }