diff --git a/fs/netfs/direct_write.c b/fs/netfs/direct_write.c
index c16fbad286a1..b04019097ab8 100644
--- a/fs/netfs/direct_write.c
+++ b/fs/netfs/direct_write.c
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ static int netfs_unbuffered_write(struct netfs_io_request *wreq)
 {
 	struct netfs_io_subrequest *subreq = NULL;
 	struct netfs_io_stream *stream = &wreq->io_streams[0];
-	int ret;
+	int ret = 0;
 
 	_enter("%llx", wreq->len);