diff --git a/src/detection/cpu/cpu_windows.c b/src/detection/cpu/cpu_windows.c
index 231ea342e..59f07ab7a 100644
--- a/src/detection/cpu/cpu_windows.c
+++ b/src/detection/cpu/cpu_windows.c
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ const char* ffDetectCPUImpl(const FFCPUOptions* options, FFCPUResult* cpu)
             return "GetLogicalProcessorInformationEx(RelationAll, pProcessorInfo, &length) failed";
     }
 
-    FF_HKEY_AUTO_DESTROY hKey;
+    FF_HKEY_AUTO_DESTROY hKey = NULL;
     if(!ffRegOpenKeyForRead(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, L"HARDWARE\\DESCRIPTION\\System\\CentralProcessor\\0", &hKey, NULL))
         return "ffRegOpenKeyForRead(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, L\"HARDWARE\\DESCRIPTION\\System\\CentralProcessor\\0\", &hKey, NULL) failed";