diff --git a/src/transports/smart_protocol.c b/src/transports/smart_protocol.c
index 40db712c1..aca06175c 100644
--- a/src/transports/smart_protocol.c
+++ b/src/transports/smart_protocol.c
@@ -653,7 +653,7 @@ static int update_refs_from_report(
 {
 	git_pkt_ref *ref;
 	push_spec *push_spec;
-	push_status *push_status;
+	push_status *push_status = NULL;
 	size_t i, j, refs_len;
 	int cmp;