diff --git a/bgpd/bgp_zebra.c b/bgpd/bgp_zebra.c
index e4f4823e6f..1cd51cb6f4 100644
--- a/bgpd/bgp_zebra.c
+++ b/bgpd/bgp_zebra.c
@@ -1316,7 +1316,7 @@ void bgp_zebra_announce(struct bgp_node *rn, struct prefix *p,
 					&mpinfo_cp->attr->nexthop,
 					mpinfo_cp->attr, is_evpn, api_nh);
 		} else {
-			ifindex_t ifindex;
+			ifindex_t ifindex = IFINDEX_INTERNAL;
 			struct in6_addr *nexthop;
 
 			if (bgp->table_map[afi][safi].name) {