diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index af215caee19ca7535f59d98f813a79d17c8c5852..25d983e1da29715b94df1f410e67137ebc1e60cf 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -6132,7 +6132,7 @@ static int qemudDomainDetachHostPciDevice(virConnectPtr conn,
                                           virDomainObjPtr vm,
                                           virDomainDeviceDefPtr dev)
 {
-    virDomainHostdevDefPtr detach;
+    virDomainHostdevDefPtr detach = NULL;
     char *cmd, *reply;
     int i, ret;
     pciDevice *pci;