diff --git a/lash.c b/lash.c
index 36e8aa5ea..98d6b65a6 100644
--- a/lash.c
+++ b/lash.c
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ unsigned int shell_context;  /* Used in cmdedit.c to reset the
 
 /* Globals that are static to this file */
 static char *cwd;
-static char *local_pending_command;
+static char *local_pending_command = NULL;
 static struct jobset job_list = { NULL, NULL };
 static int argc;
 static char **argv;
diff --git a/sh.c b/sh.c
index 36e8aa5ea..98d6b65a6 100644
--- a/sh.c
+++ b/sh.c
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ unsigned int shell_context;  /* Used in cmdedit.c to reset the
 
 /* Globals that are static to this file */
 static char *cwd;
-static char *local_pending_command;
+static char *local_pending_command = NULL;
 static struct jobset job_list = { NULL, NULL };
 static int argc;
 static char **argv;
diff --git a/shell/lash.c b/shell/lash.c
index 36e8aa5ea..98d6b65a6 100644
--- a/shell/lash.c
+++ b/shell/lash.c
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ unsigned int shell_context;  /* Used in cmdedit.c to reset the
 
 /* Globals that are static to this file */
 static char *cwd;
-static char *local_pending_command;
+static char *local_pending_command = NULL;
 static struct jobset job_list = { NULL, NULL };
 static int argc;
 static char **argv;