diff --git a/src/elf.c b/src/elf.c
index c92e023..b5ab1cb 100644
--- a/src/elf.c
+++ b/src/elf.c
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ int elf_open(const char *binary_path, struct elf_fd *elf_fd)
 	int fd, ret;
 	Elf *elf;
 
+	elf_fd->elf = NULL;
+	elf_fd->fd = -1;
+
 	if (elf_version(EV_CURRENT) == EV_NONE) {
 		pr_warn("elf: failed to init libelf for %s\n", binary_path);
 		return -LIBBPF_ERRNO__LIBELF;