diff --git a/chardev/char-socket.c b/chardev/char-socket.c
index e8dd2931dc..1e8313915b 100644
--- a/chardev/char-socket.c
+++ b/chardev/char-socket.c
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ static gboolean tcp_chr_read(QIOChannel *chan, GIOCondition cond, void *opaque)
 {
     Chardev *chr = CHARDEV(opaque);
     SocketChardev *s = SOCKET_CHARDEV(opaque);
-    uint8_t buf[CHR_READ_BUF_LEN];
+    QEMU_UNINITIALIZED uint8_t buf[CHR_READ_BUF_LEN];
     int len, size;
 
     if ((s->state != TCP_CHARDEV_STATE_CONNECTED) ||