diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/search.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/search.c
index 6ecf5b4abe..438397f441 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/search.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/search.c
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ ldbm_back_search(
 	ID		id;
 	Entry		*e;
 	Attribute	*ref;
-	char		*matched;
+	char		*matched = NULL;
 	int		rmaxsize, nrefs;
 	char		*rbuf, *rcur, *r;
 	int		nentries = 0;