diff --git a/clients/tools/ldapmodify.c b/clients/tools/ldapmodify.c
index 70d2319265..2f0edf9239 100644
--- a/clients/tools/ldapmodify.c
+++ b/clients/tools/ldapmodify.c
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ main( int argc, char **argv )
 {
 	char		*rbuf = NULL, *rejbuf = NULL;
 	FILE		*rejfp;
-	struct LDIFFP *ldiffp, ldifdummy = {0};
+	struct LDIFFP *ldiffp = NULL, ldifdummy = {0};
 	char		*matched_msg, *error_msg;
 	int		rc, retval, ldifrc;
 	int		len;