diff --git a/chardev/char-pty.c b/chardev/char-pty.c
index c28554e6e0..674e9b3f14 100644
--- a/chardev/char-pty.c
+++ b/chardev/char-pty.c
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ static gboolean pty_chr_read(QIOChannel *chan, GIOCondition cond, void *opaque)
     Chardev *chr = CHARDEV(opaque);
     PtyChardev *s = PTY_CHARDEV(opaque);
     gsize len;
-    uint8_t buf[CHR_READ_BUF_LEN];
+    QEMU_UNINITIALIZED uint8_t buf[CHR_READ_BUF_LEN];
     ssize_t ret;
 
     len = sizeof(buf);