diff --git a/tests/util/hashmap.c b/tests/util/hashmap.c
index 1bd072084..8ac63e525 100644
--- a/tests/util/hashmap.c
+++ b/tests/util/hashmap.c
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ void test_hashmap__put_persists_key(void)
 
 void test_hashmap__put_persists_multpile_keys(void)
 {
-	char *str;
+	char *str = NULL;
 
 	cl_git_pass(git_hashmap_test_put(&g_table, "foo", "oof"));
 	cl_git_pass(git_hashmap_test_put(&g_table, "bar", "rab"));
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ void test_hashmap__put_persists_multpile_keys(void)
 
 void test_hashmap__put_updates_existing_key(void)
 {
-	char *str;
+	char *str = NULL;
 
 	cl_git_pass(git_hashmap_test_put(&g_table, "foo", "oof"));
 	cl_git_pass(git_hashmap_test_put(&g_table, "bar", "rab"));