diff --git a/modules/objfmts/dbg/dbg-objfmt.c b/modules/objfmts/dbg/dbg-objfmt.c
index b8100a47..fc81deef 100644
--- a/modules/objfmts/dbg/dbg-objfmt.c
+++ b/modules/objfmts/dbg/dbg-objfmt.c
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ dbg_objfmt_common_data_new(const char *name, /*@only@*/ expr *size,
 static void *
 dbg_objfmt_declare_data_copy(SymVisibility vis, /*@only@*/ void *data)
 {
-    void *retval;
+    void *retval = NULL;
 
     fprintf(debug_file, "%*sdeclare_data_copy(", indent_level, "");
     switch (vis) {
diff --git a/src/objfmts/dbg/dbg-objfmt.c b/src/objfmts/dbg/dbg-objfmt.c
index b8100a47..fc81deef 100644
--- a/src/objfmts/dbg/dbg-objfmt.c
+++ b/src/objfmts/dbg/dbg-objfmt.c
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ dbg_objfmt_common_data_new(const char *name, /*@only@*/ expr *size,
 static void *
 dbg_objfmt_declare_data_copy(SymVisibility vis, /*@only@*/ void *data)
 {
-    void *retval;
+    void *retval = NULL;
 
     fprintf(debug_file, "%*sdeclare_data_copy(", indent_level, "");
     switch (vis) {