diff --git a/src/x11/meta-x11-display.c b/src/x11/meta-x11-display.c
index 8b446e348..502b1a962 100644
--- a/src/x11/meta-x11-display.c
+++ b/src/x11/meta-x11-display.c
@@ -924,7 +924,7 @@ set_workspace_work_area_hint (MetaWorkspace  *workspace,
   int num_monitors;
   unsigned long *data;
   unsigned long *tmp;
-  g_autofree char *workarea_name;
+  g_autofree char *workarea_name = NULL;
   Atom workarea_atom;
 
   monitor_manager = meta_backend_get_monitor_manager (meta_get_backend ());