diff --git a/ext/celt/gstceltenc.c b/ext/celt/gstceltenc.c
index fcba67ca3c..4fd9ee8d93 100644
--- a/ext/celt/gstceltenc.c
+++ b/ext/celt/gstceltenc.c
@@ -588,7 +588,7 @@ static GstBuffer *
 gst_celt_enc_create_metadata_buffer (GstCeltEnc * enc)
 {
   const GstTagList *tags;
-  GstTagList *empty_tags;
+  GstTagList *empty_tags = NULL;
   GstBuffer *comments = NULL;
 
   tags = gst_tag_setter_get_tag_list (GST_TAG_SETTER (enc));