diff --git a/tools/libxl/libxl_dm.c b/tools/libxl/libxl_dm.c
index 1ffcc909f8..d43a1fc0a6 100644
--- a/tools/libxl/libxl_dm.c
+++ b/tools/libxl/libxl_dm.c
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ static int libxl_create_stubdom(libxl_ctx *ctx,
     libxl_domain_create_info c_info;
     libxl_domain_build_info b_info;
     libxl_domain_build_state state;
-    uint32_t domid;
+    uint32_t domid = 0;
     char **args;
     struct xs_permissions perm[2];
     xs_transaction_t t;