diff --git a/ssh.c b/ssh.c
index e92eb1d7..3f37c649 100644
--- a/ssh.c
+++ b/ssh.c
@@ -7338,6 +7338,7 @@ static const char *ssh_init(void *frontend_handle, void **backend_handle,
 
     ssh->channels = NULL;
     ssh->rportfwds = NULL;
+    ssh->portfwds = NULL;
 
     ssh->send_ok = 0;
     ssh->editing = 0;