diff --git a/libs/libc/search/hcreate.c b/libs/libc/search/hcreate.c
index ae64ec9676..f3ea5c3dd6 100644
--- a/libs/libc/search/hcreate.c
+++ b/libs/libc/search/hcreate.c
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ void hdestroy(void)
 
 FAR ENTRY *hsearch(ENTRY item, ACTION action)
 {
-  FAR ENTRY *retval;
+  FAR ENTRY *retval = NULL;
 
   hsearch_r(item, action, &retval, &g_htab);