diff --git a/zebra/zapi_msg.c b/zebra/zapi_msg.c
index c21d00bbe6..4fa7a3c164 100644
--- a/zebra/zapi_msg.c
+++ b/zebra/zapi_msg.c
@@ -1475,6 +1475,8 @@ static void zread_route_add(ZAPI_HANDLER_ARGS)
 		api_nh = &api.nexthops[i];
 		ifindex_t ifindex = 0;
 
+		nexthop = NULL;
+
 		if (IS_ZEBRA_DEBUG_RECV)
 			zlog_debug("nh type %d", api_nh->type);