diff --git a/net/ipv6/route.c b/net/ipv6/route.c
index a9d3564caf49..48c8c92dcbd3 100644
--- a/net/ipv6/route.c
+++ b/net/ipv6/route.c
@@ -1289,7 +1289,7 @@ static void rt6_dst_from_metrics_check(struct rt6_info *rt)
 
 static struct dst_entry *rt6_check(struct rt6_info *rt, u32 cookie)
 {
-	u32 rt_cookie;
+	u32 rt_cookie = 0;
 
 	if (!rt6_get_cookie_safe(rt, &rt_cookie) || rt_cookie != cookie)
 		return NULL;