diff --git a/agent/command.c b/agent/command.c
index 087175335..7fbf1de1c 100644
--- a/agent/command.c
+++ b/agent/command.c
@@ -887,7 +887,7 @@ cmd_genkey (assuan_context_t ctx, char *line)
   ctrl_t ctrl = assuan_get_pointer (ctx);
   int rc;
   int no_protection;
-  unsigned char *value;
+  unsigned char *value = NULL;
   size_t valuelen;
   unsigned char *newpasswd = NULL;
   membuf_t outbuf;