diff --git a/release/sysinstall/dist.c b/release/sysinstall/dist.c
index ccae4cea0d7..1d9a27f3370 100644
--- a/release/sysinstall/dist.c
+++ b/release/sysinstall/dist.c
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ distExtract(char *parent, Distribution *me)
     WINDOW *w = savescr();
     struct timeval start, stop;
     struct sigaction old, new;
-    properties dist_attr;
+    properties dist_attr = NULL;
 
     status = TRUE;
     if (isDebug())
diff --git a/usr.sbin/sysinstall/dist.c b/usr.sbin/sysinstall/dist.c
index ccae4cea0d7..1d9a27f3370 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/sysinstall/dist.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/sysinstall/dist.c
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ distExtract(char *parent, Distribution *me)
     WINDOW *w = savescr();
     struct timeval start, stop;
     struct sigaction old, new;
-    properties dist_attr;
+    properties dist_attr = NULL;
 
     status = TRUE;
     if (isDebug())