diff --git a/tools/gpio/lsgpio.c b/tools/gpio/lsgpio.c
index 1124da375942..eb3f56efd215 100644
--- a/tools/gpio/lsgpio.c
+++ b/tools/gpio/lsgpio.c
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ void print_usage(void)
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
-	const char *device_name;
+	const char *device_name = NULL;
 	int ret;
 	int c;