diff --git a/servers/slapd/overlays/autoca.c b/servers/slapd/overlays/autoca.c
index cb0227001e..eb9460d021 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/overlays/autoca.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/overlays/autoca.c
@@ -973,7 +973,7 @@ autoca_db_open(
 	OperationBuffer opbuf;
 	Operation *op;
 	void *thrctx;
-	Entry *e;
+	Entry *e = NULL;
 	Attribute *a;
 	int rc;