diff --git a/src/vty/vty.c b/src/vty/vty.c
index cd252ad..8cc2a3a 100644
--- a/src/vty/vty.c
+++ b/src/vty/vty.c
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@
 		goto out_obuf;
 
 	new->max = VTY_BUFSIZ;
+	new->fd = -1;
 
 	return new;