diff --git a/user_channel/channel_mgmt.cpp b/user_channel/channel_mgmt.cpp
index f43741d..a1a9051 100644
--- a/user_channel/channel_mgmt.cpp
+++ b/user_channel/channel_mgmt.cpp
@@ -909,7 +909,7 @@
 
     // Collect the list of NIC interfaces connected to the BMC. Use this
     // information to only add IPMI channels that have active NIC interfaces.
-    struct ifaddrs *ifaddr, *ifa;
+    struct ifaddrs *ifaddr = nullptr, *ifa = nullptr;
     if (int err = getifaddrs(&ifaddr); err < 0)
     {
         log<level::DEBUG>("Unable to acquire network interfaces");