1 files changed, 2 insertions, 2 deletions

diff --git a/readconf.c b/readconf.c
index c556b8338..16a14df51 100644
--- a/readconf.c
+++ b/readconf.c
@@ -257,8 +257,7 @@ process_config_line(Options *options, const char *host,
                     char *line, const char *filename, int linenum,
                     int *activep)
 {
-        char buf[256], *s, *string = NULL, **charptr, *endofnumber, *keyword, 
-            *arg;
+        char buf[256], *s, *string, **charptr, *endofnumber, *keyword, *arg;
         int opcode, *intptr, value;
         u_short fwd_port, fwd_host_port;
 
@@ -475,6 +474,7 @@ parse_string:
 
         case oProxyCommand:
                 charptr = &options->proxy_command;
+                string = xstrdup("");
                 while ((arg = strdelim(&s)) != NULL && *arg != '\0') {
                         string = xrealloc(string, strlen(string) + strlen(arg) + 2);
                         strcat(string, " ");