diff --git a/lightningd/channel_control.c b/lightningd/channel_control.c
index 202f0103990e..5eeb966dee91 100644
--- a/lightningd/channel_control.c
+++ b/lightningd/channel_control.c
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ static void handle_splice_abort(struct lightningd *ld,
 	struct bitcoin_outpoint *outpoint;
 	struct channel_inflight *inflight;
 	char *reason;
-	const u8 *error;
+	const u8 *error = NULL;
 	struct peer_fd *pfd;
 	int other_fd;
 
diff --git a/lightningd/peer_control.c b/lightningd/peer_control.c
index 1134bca48d70..7e83f2d6cc4f 100644
--- a/lightningd/peer_control.c
+++ b/lightningd/peer_control.c
@@ -1395,7 +1395,7 @@ static bool ignore_idle_channel(const struct lightningd *ld,
 /* Talk to connectd about an active channel */
 static void connect_activate_subd(struct lightningd *ld, struct channel *channel)
 {
-	const u8 *error;
+	const u8 *error = NULL;
 	struct peer_fd *pfd;
 	int other_fd;