diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
index 4a901be599ed..d8f34e0afbfb 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
@@ -838,7 +838,7 @@ int perf_evlist__prepare_workload(struct perf_evlist *evlist,
 int perf_evlist__start_workload(struct perf_evlist *evlist)
 {
 	if (evlist->workload.cork_fd > 0) {
-		char bf;
+		char bf = 0;
 		int ret;
 		/*
 		 * Remove the cork, let it rip!