diff --git a/src/osd/windows/winwork.c b/src/osd/windows/winwork.c
index 34f2379cedb..3ec044864ec 100644
--- a/src/osd/windows/winwork.c
+++ b/src/osd/windows/winwork.c
@@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ static void worker_thread_process(osd_work_queue *queue, work_thread_info *threa
 	// loop until everything is processed
 	while (true)
 	{
-		osd_work_item *item;
+		osd_work_item *item = NULL;
 
 		bool end_loop = false;