diff --git a/src/node_device/node_device_udev.c b/src/node_device/node_device_udev.c
index fceb135aa5..09048fb23f 100644
--- a/src/node_device/node_device_udev.c
+++ b/src/node_device/node_device_udev.c
@@ -1100,7 +1100,7 @@ static int
 udevProcessCCW(struct udev_device *device,
                virNodeDeviceDefPtr def)
 {
-    int online;
+    int online = 0;
 
     /* process only online devices to keep the list sane */
     if (udevGetIntSysfsAttr(device, "online", &online, 0) < 0 || online != 1)