diff --git a/crypto/conf/conf_mod.c b/crypto/conf/conf_mod.c
index 459a2d7df..f92babc2e 100644
--- a/crypto/conf/conf_mod.c
+++ b/crypto/conf/conf_mod.c
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ int CONF_modules_load(const CONF *cnf, const char *appname,
 int CONF_modules_load_file(const char *filename, const char *appname,
 			   unsigned long flags)
 	{
-	char *file;
+	char *file = NULL;
 	CONF *conf = NULL;
 	int ret = 0;
 	conf = NCONF_new(NULL);