diff --git a/subprojects/libvhost-user/libvhost-user.c b/subprojects/libvhost-user/libvhost-user.c
index 8adb277d54..53bf1adda6 100644
--- a/subprojects/libvhost-user/libvhost-user.c
+++ b/subprojects/libvhost-user/libvhost-user.c
@@ -632,6 +632,7 @@ vu_message_write(VuDev *dev, int conn_fd, VhostUserMsg *vmsg)
         memcpy(CMSG_DATA(cmsg), vmsg->fds, fdsize);
     } else {
         msg.msg_controllen = 0;
+        msg.msg_control = NULL;
     }
 
     do {