diff --git a/bin/pkill/pkill.c b/bin/pkill/pkill.c
index 69349c3c589..ae0fd89e4ee 100644
--- a/bin/pkill/pkill.c
+++ b/bin/pkill/pkill.c
@@ -180,7 +180,8 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	debug_opt = 0;
 	pidfile = NULL;
 	pidfilelock = 0;
-	execf = coref = _PATH_DEVNULL;
+	execf = NULL;
+	coref = _PATH_DEVNULL;
 
 	while ((ch = getopt(argc, argv, "DF:G:ILM:N:P:SU:ad:fg:ij:lnos:t:u:vx")) != -1)
 		switch (ch) {
diff --git a/bin/ps/ps.c b/bin/ps/ps.c
index 904a430c1af..0667db9b5c4 100644
--- a/bin/ps/ps.c
+++ b/bin/ps/ps.c
@@ -212,7 +212,8 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	init_list(&sesslist, addelem_pid, sizeof(pid_t), "session id");
 	init_list(&ttylist, addelem_tty, sizeof(dev_t), "tty");
 	init_list(&uidlist, addelem_uid, sizeof(uid_t), "user");
-	memf = nlistf = _PATH_DEVNULL;
+	memf = _PATH_DEVNULL;
+	nlistf = NULL;
 	while ((ch = getopt(argc, argv, PS_ARGS)) != -1)
 		switch (ch) {
 		case 'A':
diff --git a/usr.bin/w/w.c b/usr.bin/w/w.c
index 10ec7b04bd2..dbd41ff60b1 100644
--- a/usr.bin/w/w.c
+++ b/usr.bin/w/w.c
@@ -158,7 +158,8 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	}
 
 	dropgid = 0;
-	memf = nlistf = _PATH_DEVNULL;
+	memf = _PATH_DEVNULL;
+	nlistf = NULL;
 	while ((ch = getopt(argc, argv, p)) != -1)
 		switch (ch) {
 		case 'd':