diff --git a/clutter/clutter/x11/xsettings/xsettings-client.c b/clutter/clutter/x11/xsettings/xsettings-client.c
index f23149901..120809c65 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/x11/xsettings/xsettings-client.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/x11/xsettings/xsettings-client.c
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ static XSettingsList *
 parse_settings (unsigned char *data,
 		size_t         len)
 {
-  XSettingsBuffer buffer;
+  XSettingsBuffer buffer = { 0 };
   XSettingsResult result = XSETTINGS_SUCCESS;
   XSettingsList *settings = NULL;
   CARD32 serial;