diff --git a/sys/x86/xen/xen_nexus.c b/sys/x86/xen/xen_nexus.c
index 1baeb7d9391f..f25f970c609b 100644
--- a/sys/x86/xen/xen_nexus.c
+++ b/sys/x86/xen/xen_nexus.c
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ nexus_xen_attach(device_t dev)
 {
 	int error;
 #ifndef XEN
-	device_t acpi_dev;
+	device_t acpi_dev = NULL;
 #endif
 
 	nexus_init_resources();