diff --git a/src/libbpf.c b/src/libbpf.c
index 5e977d2..7a6f15c 100644
--- a/src/libbpf.c
+++ b/src/libbpf.c
@@ -622,7 +622,7 @@ bpf_object__init_maps(struct bpf_object *obj, int flags)
 	bool strict = !(flags & MAPS_RELAX_COMPAT);
 	int i, map_idx, map_def_sz, nr_maps = 0;
 	Elf_Scn *scn;
-	Elf_Data *data;
+	Elf_Data *data = NULL;
 	Elf_Data *symbols = obj->efile.symbols;
 
 	if (obj->efile.maps_shndx < 0)