diff --git a/src/util-misc.c b/src/util-misc.c
index 1643e7e1f2..53ee0d3dc8 100644
--- a/src/util-misc.c
+++ b/src/util-misc.c
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ static pcre_extra *parse_regex_study = NULL;
 
 void ParseSizeInit(void)
 {
-    const char *eb;
+    const char *eb = NULL;
     int eo;
     int opts = 0;