diff --git a/src/nm-device-interface.c b/src/nm-device-interface.c
index d34833a3a..cd2006e4a 100644
--- a/src/nm-device-interface.c
+++ b/src/nm-device-interface.c
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ impl_device_activate (NMDeviceInterface *device,
                       GError **err)
 {
 	NMManager *manager = nm_manager_get ();
-	NMDevice *old_dev;
+	NMDevice *old_dev = NULL;
 	GSList *iter;
 
 	// FIXME: remove when multiple active device support has landed