diff --git a/utils/osmo-arfcn.c b/utils/osmo-arfcn.c
index 9e4534f43..3d4fb507c 100644
--- a/utils/osmo-arfcn.c
+++ b/utils/osmo-arfcn.c
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
 	int arfcn, freq, pcs = 0, uplink = -1;
 	int opt;
-	char *param;
+	char *param = NULL;
 	enum program_mode mode = MODE_NONE;
 
 	while ((opt = getopt(argc, argv, "pa:f:udh")) != -1) {