diff --git a/kuser/kimpersonate.c b/kuser/kimpersonate.c
index 9ff4e4707..04a16fb6a 100644
--- a/kuser/kimpersonate.c
+++ b/kuser/kimpersonate.c
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ create_krb5_tickets(krb5_context context, krb5_keytab kt)
     }
 
     if (add_to_ccache) {
-        krb5_principal def_princ;
+        krb5_principal def_princ = NULL;
 
         /*
          * Force fcache to read the ccache header, otherwise the store