diff --git a/src/wp_ecx_kmgmt.c b/src/wp_ecx_kmgmt.c
index 66057eaf..b4c0ee7e 100644
--- a/src/wp_ecx_kmgmt.c
+++ b/src/wp_ecx_kmgmt.c
@@ -1933,7 +1933,7 @@ static int wp_ecx_decode(wp_EcxEncDecCtx* ctx, OSSL_CORE_BIO* cBio,
     unsigned char* data = NULL;
     word32 len = 0;
     word32 idx = 0;
-    wp_Ecx* ecx;
+    wp_Ecx* ecx = NULL;
     const char* dataType = NULL;
 
     if (!wolfssl_prov_is_running()) {