diff --git a/libnvme/src/nvme/lib.c b/libnvme/src/nvme/lib.c
index 350a6a1ca4..dc14deea65 100644
--- a/libnvme/src/nvme/lib.c
+++ b/libnvme/src/nvme/lib.c
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ static int __nvme_transport_handle_open_direct(
 	struct libnvme_passthru_cmd dummy = { 0 };
 	__cleanup_free char *path = NULL;
 	char *name;
-	int ret, id, ns;
+	int ret, id, ns = 0;
 	bool c = true;
 
 	name = libnvme_basename(devname);