diff --git a/src/video/quartz/SDL_QuartzEvents.m b/src/video/quartz/SDL_QuartzEvents.m
index 540f3b3ed..c20f58dd3 100644
--- a/src/video/quartz/SDL_QuartzEvents.m
+++ b/src/video/quartz/SDL_QuartzEvents.m
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ void     QZ_InitOSKeymap (_THIS) {
 
 static void QZ_DoKey (_THIS, int state, NSEvent *event) {
 
-    NSString *chars;
+    NSString *chars = NULL;
     unsigned int i, numChars;
     SDL_keysym key;