diff --git a/win32ss/gdi/eng/pdevobj.c b/win32ss/gdi/eng/pdevobj.c
index 410e8998146..e1f9da54c69 100644
--- a/win32ss/gdi/eng/pdevobj.c
+++ b/win32ss/gdi/eng/pdevobj.c
@@ -768,7 +768,7 @@ PDEVOBJ_lChangeDisplaySettings(
     _Out_ PMDEVOBJ *ppmdevNew,
     _In_ BOOL bSearchClosestMode)
 {
-    PGRAPHICS_DEVICE pGraphicsDevice;
+    PGRAPHICS_DEVICE pGraphicsDevice = NULL;
     PMDEVOBJ pmdev = NULL;
     PDEVMODEW pdm = NULL;
     ULONG lRet = DISP_CHANGE_SUCCESSFUL;