diff --git a/target/ppc/kvm.c b/target/ppc/kvm.c
index 01baea467f..69094ddb7a 100644
--- a/target/ppc/kvm.c
+++ b/target/ppc/kvm.c
@@ -2537,7 +2537,7 @@ int kvmppc_get_cap_large_decr(void)
 int kvmppc_enable_cap_large_decr(PowerPCCPU *cpu, int enable)
 {
     CPUState *cs = CPU(cpu);
-    uint64_t lpcr;
+    uint64_t lpcr = 0;
 
     kvm_get_one_reg(cs, KVM_REG_PPC_LPCR_64, &lpcr);
     /* Do we need to modify the LPCR? */