diff --git a/api.c b/api.c
index 4ccecd17..9459f6c9 100644
--- a/api.c
+++ b/api.c
@@ -3668,7 +3668,7 @@ void api(int api_thr_id)
 	struct sockaddr_in cli;
 	socklen_t clisiz;
 	char cmdbuf[100];
-	char *cmd;
+	char *cmd = NULL;
 	char *param;
 	bool addrok;
 	char group;