diff --git a/src/backends/x11/meta-monitor-manager-xrandr.c b/src/backends/x11/meta-monitor-manager-xrandr.c
index b0a77dadb..9c236fdc7 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/meta-monitor-manager-xrandr.c
+++ b/src/backends/x11/meta-monitor-manager-xrandr.c
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ output_get_backlight_limits_xrandr (MetaMonitorManagerXrandr *manager_xrandr,
 {
   Atom atom;
   xcb_connection_t *xcb_conn;
-  g_autofree xcb_randr_query_output_property_reply_t *reply;
+  g_autofree xcb_randr_query_output_property_reply_t *reply = NULL;
 
   atom = XInternAtom (manager_xrandr->xdisplay, "Backlight", False);