--- libc/inet/resolv.c
+++ libc/inet/resolv.c
@@ -1788,7 +1788,7 @@
 int gethostent_r(struct hostent *result_buf, char *buf, size_t buflen,
 	struct hostent **result, int *h_errnop)
 {
-	int ret;
+	int ret = HOST_NOT_FOUND;
 
 	__UCLIBC_MUTEX_LOCK(mylock);
 	if (__gethostent_fp == NULL) {