diff --git a/src/runtime/runtime.cs b/src/runtime/runtime.cs
index 83d404f9d..915e1db00 100644
--- a/src/runtime/runtime.cs
+++ b/src/runtime/runtime.cs
@@ -2155,7 +2155,7 @@ internal static void Py_CLEAR(ref IntPtr ob)
         internal static void SetNoSiteFlag()
         {
             var loader = LibraryLoader.Get(NativeCodePageHelper.OperatingSystem);
-            IntPtr dllLocal;
+            IntPtr dllLocal = IntPtr.Zero;
             if (_PythonDll != "__Internal")
             {
                 dllLocal = loader.Load(_PythonDll);