diff --git a/lib/url.c b/lib/url.c
index 04497d9bb4..7f204e15f3 100644
--- a/lib/url.c
+++ b/lib/url.c
@@ -3733,7 +3733,7 @@ static CURLcode parseurlandfillconn(struct SessionHandle *data,
   char *query;
   int rc;
   char protobuf[16];
-  const char *protop;
+  const char *protop = "";
   CURLcode result;
   bool rebuild_url = FALSE;