diff --git a/scripts/qapi-commands.py b/scripts/qapi-commands.py
index 386f17ef44..7d93d01ed2 100644
--- a/scripts/qapi-commands.py
+++ b/scripts/qapi-commands.py
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ def gen_visitor_input_vars_decl(args):
                          argname=c_var(argname), argtype=c_type(argtype))
         else:
             ret += mcgen('''
-%(argtype)s %(argname)s;
+%(argtype)s %(argname)s = {0};
 ''',
                          argname=c_var(argname), argtype=c_type(argtype))