diff --git a/tools/ldb_cmd.cc b/tools/ldb_cmd.cc
index d9beaae5b..597e9bc21 100644
--- a/tools/ldb_cmd.cc
+++ b/tools/ldb_cmd.cc
@@ -1086,7 +1086,7 @@ CreateColumnFamilyCommand::CreateColumnFamilyCommand(
 }
 
 void CreateColumnFamilyCommand::DoCommand() {
-  ColumnFamilyHandle* new_cf_handle;
+  ColumnFamilyHandle* new_cf_handle = nullptr;
   Status st = db_->CreateColumnFamily(options_, new_cf_name_, &new_cf_handle);
   if (st.ok()) {
     fprintf(stdout, "OK\n");