diff --git a/programs/regedit/edit.c b/programs/regedit/edit.c
index 1741672c983..a8349665499 100644
--- a/programs/regedit/edit.c
+++ b/programs/regedit/edit.c
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ BOOL CreateKey(HWND hwnd, HKEY hKeyRoot, LPCTSTR keyPath, LPTSTR keyName)
 {
     BOOL result = FALSE;
     LONG lRet = ERROR_SUCCESS;
-    HKEY retKey;
+    HKEY retKey = NULL;
     TCHAR newKey[MAX_NEW_KEY_LEN - 4];
     int keyNum;
     HKEY hKey;