diff --git a/lib/northbound.c b/lib/northbound.c
index a7f9c8620e..70d11a4a42 100644
--- a/lib/northbound.c
+++ b/lib/northbound.c
@@ -719,7 +719,6 @@ static int nb_configuration_callback(const enum nb_event event,
 	const struct lyd_node *dnode = change->cb.dnode;
 	union nb_resource *resource;
 	int ret = NB_ERR;
-	enum lib_log_refs ref;
 
 	if (debug_northbound) {
 		const char *value = "(none)";
@@ -753,6 +752,8 @@ static int nb_configuration_callback(const enum nb_event event,
 	}
 
 	if (ret != NB_OK) {
+		enum lib_log_refs ref = 0;
+
 		switch (event) {
 		case NB_EV_VALIDATE:
 			ref = EC_LIB_NB_CB_CONFIG_VALIDATE;