diff --git a/lib/url.c b/lib/url.c
index a1a6b6910..caeb429a5 100644
--- a/lib/url.c
+++ b/lib/url.c
@@ -3170,7 +3170,7 @@ static CURLcode resolve_server(struct Curl_easy *data,
   else {
     /* this is a fresh connect */
     int rc;
-    struct Curl_dns_entry *hostaddr;
+    struct Curl_dns_entry *hostaddr = NULL;
 
 #ifdef USE_UNIX_SOCKETS
     if(conn->unix_domain_socket) {