diff --git a/lib/hostip.c b/lib/hostip.c
index 6a2d307613..e5eecf705f 100644
--- a/lib/hostip.c
+++ b/lib/hostip.c
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ struct hostent *GetHost(struct UrlData *data,
 #endif
       {
       infof(data, "gethostbyname_r(2) failed for %s\n", hostname);
+      h = NULL; /* set return code to NULL */
     }
 #else
   else {