diff --git a/mozilla/security/psm/server/processmsg.c b/mozilla/security/psm/server/processmsg.c
index d33fdd38974..f25e447b4ec 100644
--- a/mozilla/security/psm/server/processmsg.c
+++ b/mozilla/security/psm/server/processmsg.c
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ SSMControlConnection_ProcessMiscRequest(SSMControlConnection * ctrl,
 {
     SingleNumMessage req;
     SingleItemMessage reply;
-    char *buf;
+    char *buf = NULL;
     SSMStatus rv = SSM_SUCCESS;
     SECStatus srv;