diff --git a/proto/bgp/packets.c b/proto/bgp/packets.c
index 808afaa..a16886b 100644
--- a/proto/bgp/packets.c
+++ b/proto/bgp/packets.c
@@ -1187,7 +1187,7 @@ bgp_do_rx_update(struct bgp_conn *conn,
   byte *start, *x;
   int len, len0;
   unsigned af, sub;
-  rta *a0, *a;
+  rta *a0, *a = NULL;
   ip_addr prefix;
   int pxlen, err = 0;
   u32 path_id = 0;