diff --git a/sys/kern/kern_sendfile.c b/sys/kern/kern_sendfile.c
index 30995fe4def1..6df1537527a2 100644
--- a/sys/kern/kern_sendfile.c
+++ b/sys/kern/kern_sendfile.c
@@ -945,6 +945,7 @@ sendfile(struct thread *td, struct sendfile_args *uap, int compat)
 	if (uap->offset < 0)
 		return (EINVAL);
 
+	sbytes = 0;
 	hdr_uio = trl_uio = NULL;
 
 	if (uap->hdtr != NULL) {