diff --git a/dlls/kernel32/tests/debugger.c b/dlls/kernel32/tests/debugger.c
index 92e4c4379e6..7f7b052d98f 100644
--- a/dlls/kernel32/tests/debugger.c
+++ b/dlls/kernel32/tests/debugger.c
@@ -450,6 +450,7 @@ static void test_ExitCode(void)
         ok(0, "could not open the AeDebug key: %d\n", ret);
         return;
     }
+    else debugger_value.data = NULL;
 
     if (debugger_value.data && debugger_value.type == REG_SZ &&
         strstr((char*)debugger_value.data, "winedbg --auto"))