diff --git a/src/lxc/monitor.c b/src/lxc/monitor.c
index 0e56f75ee..374158684 100644
--- a/src/lxc/monitor.c
+++ b/src/lxc/monitor.c
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ int lxc_monitor_sock_name(const char *lxcpath, struct sockaddr_un *addr) {
 int lxc_monitor_open(const char *lxcpath)
 {
 	struct sockaddr_un addr;
-	int fd,ret;
+	int fd,ret = 0;
 	int retry,backoff_ms[] = {10, 50, 100};
 	size_t len;