diff --git a/ssh.c b/ssh.c
index e60e0315..75da932e 100644
--- a/ssh.c
+++ b/ssh.c
@@ -5902,6 +5902,7 @@ static char *ssh_init(void *frontend_handle, void **backend_handle,
     ssh->do_ssh1_login_state = NULL;
     ssh->do_ssh2_transport_state = NULL;
     ssh->do_ssh2_authconn_state = NULL;
+    ssh->mainchan = NULL;
 
     *backend_handle = ssh;