diff --git a/gio/gcancellable.c b/gio/gcancellable.c
index 2e3b4a057..1440cd316 100644
--- a/gio/gcancellable.c
+++ b/gio/gcancellable.c
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ static guint signals[LAST_SIGNAL] = { 0 };
 
 G_DEFINE_TYPE_WITH_PRIVATE (GCancellable, g_cancellable, G_TYPE_OBJECT)
 
-static GPrivate current_cancellable;
+static GPrivate current_cancellable = G_PRIVATE_INIT (NULL);
 static GMutex cancellable_mutex;
 static GCond cancellable_cond;