diff --git a/src/interfaces/ecpg/lib/ecpglib.c b/src/interfaces/ecpg/lib/ecpglib.c
index 80e9b0fd9c..9f5911c477 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/ecpg/lib/ecpglib.c
+++ b/src/interfaces/ecpg/lib/ecpglib.c
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 #include <libpq-fe.h>
 #include <libpq/pqcomm.h>
 
-static PGconn *simple_connection;
+static PGconn *simple_connection = NULL;
 static int	simple_debug = 0;
 static FILE *debugstream = NULL;
 static int	committed = true;