diff --git a/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-device.c b/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-device.c
index 44b9ace0a..97f2da5f0 100644
--- a/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-device.c
+++ b/hw/9pfs/virtio-9p-device.c
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ VirtIODevice *virtio_9p_init(DeviceState *dev, V9fsConf *conf)
     s->config_size = sizeof(struct virtio_9p_config) +
                         s->tag_len;
     s->vdev.get_config = virtio_9p_get_config;
+    s->fid_list = NULL;
 
     if (v9fs_init_worker_threads() < 0) {
         fprintf(stderr, "worker thread initialization failed\n");