diff --git a/subsys/logging/log_core.c b/subsys/logging/log_core.c
index 494aabcba9c..f2e5363e094 100644
--- a/subsys/logging/log_core.c
+++ b/subsys/logging/log_core.c
@@ -705,7 +705,7 @@ union log_msg_generic *z_log_msg_local_claim(void)
 union log_msg_generic *z_log_msg_claim_oldest(k_timeout_t *backoff)
 {
 	union log_msg_generic *msg = NULL;
-	struct log_msg_ptr *chosen;
+	struct log_msg_ptr *chosen = NULL;
 	log_timestamp_t t_min = sizeof(log_timestamp_t) > sizeof(uint32_t) ?
 				UINT64_MAX : UINT32_MAX;
 	int i = 0;