diff --git a/daemons/controld/controld_execd_state.c b/daemons/controld/controld_execd_state.c
index 9f30a4e7e50..2d3268ab619 100644
--- a/daemons/controld/controld_execd_state.c
+++ b/daemons/controld/controld_execd_state.c
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ crmd_remote_proxy_cb(lrmd_t *lrmd, void *userdata, xmlNode *msg)
          */
         if (safe_str_eq(crm_element_value(request, F_CRM_TASK),
                         CRM_OP_NODE_INFO)) {
-            int node_id;
+            int node_id = 0;
 
             crm_element_value_int(request, XML_ATTR_ID, &node_id);
             if ((node_id <= 0)