diff --git a/lustre/llite/symlink.c b/lustre/llite/symlink.c
index b6902bba823b9463cdf10cfc5ffbf6de8e4556b8..ff1c99a685bb09c9ea85b03b4740defa1b646b93 100644
--- a/lustre/llite/symlink.c
+++ b/lustre/llite/symlink.c
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ static LL_FOLLOW_LINK_RETURN_TYPE ll_follow_link(struct dentry *dentry,
 #ifdef HAVE_VFS_INTENT_PATCHES
         struct lookup_intent *it = ll_nd2it(nd);
 #endif
-        struct ptlrpc_request *request;
+        struct ptlrpc_request *request = NULL;
         int rc;
         char *symname;
         ENTRY;