diff --git a/src/DNS_Mgr.h b/src/DNS_Mgr.h
index 2f258dfa1d..2adfc3ac01 100644
--- a/src/DNS_Mgr.h
+++ b/src/DNS_Mgr.h
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ protected:
 
 	RecordTypePtr dm_rec;
 
-	ares_channel channel;
+	ares_channel channel{};
 
 	using CallbackList = std::list<LookupCallback*>;