diff --git a/src/syncterm/ssh.c b/src/syncterm/ssh.c
index 11a45ff0d12a95764c39da2554975ce497513d95..c78d8869b184db321a0b8ee776ee9de9d7a51e83 100644
--- a/src/syncterm/ssh.c
+++ b/src/syncterm/ssh.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 #pragma warning(disable : 4244 4267 4018)
 #endif
 
-SOCKET          ssh_sock;
+SOCKET          ssh_sock = INVALID_SOCKET;
 CRYPT_SESSION   ssh_session;
 int             ssh_channel;
 bool            ssh_active = true;