diff --git a/zebra/if_ioctl.c b/zebra/if_ioctl.c
index c97979960e..ab36f68179 100644
--- a/zebra/if_ioctl.c
+++ b/zebra/if_ioctl.c
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ if_get_index (struct interface *ifp)
   /* Fall-back for older linuxes. */
   int ret;
   struct ifreq ifreq;
+  static int if_fake_index;
 
   ifreq_set_name (&ifreq, ifp);