diff --git a/system/gcov/gcov.c b/system/gcov/gcov.c
index 9506cadb1..53b88a121 100644
--- a/system/gcov/gcov.c
+++ b/system/gcov/gcov.c
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ static void gcov_dump(FAR const char * path, FAR const char *strip)
 int main(int argc, FAR char *argv[])
 {
   FAR const char *strip = "99";
-  FAR const char *path;
+  FAR const char *path = NULL;
   int option;
 
   if (argc < 2)