diff --git a/lib/isccfg/parser.c b/lib/isccfg/parser.c
index 37027733dd..002255d47e 100644
--- a/lib/isccfg/parser.c
+++ b/lib/isccfg/parser.c
@@ -2247,12 +2247,14 @@ cleanup:
 
 void
 cfg_print_spacelist(cfg_printer_t *pctx, const cfg_obj_t *obj) {
-	const cfg_list_t *list = &obj->value.list;
-	const cfg_listelt_t *elt;
+	const cfg_list_t *list = NULL;
+	const cfg_listelt_t *elt = NULL;
 
 	REQUIRE(pctx != NULL);
 	REQUIRE(obj != NULL);
 
+	list = &obj->value.list;
+
 	for (elt = ISC_LIST_HEAD(*list); elt != NULL;
 	     elt = ISC_LIST_NEXT(elt, link)) {
 		cfg_print_obj(pctx, elt->obj);