diff --git a/src/network/access/qnetworkaccessbackend.cpp b/src/network/access/qnetworkaccessbackend.cpp
index 3c7fee567d..7fc0b474bb 100644
--- a/src/network/access/qnetworkaccessbackend.cpp
+++ b/src/network/access/qnetworkaccessbackend.cpp
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ public:
     QNetworkAccessBackend::SecurityFeatures m_securityFeatures;
     QNetworkAccessBackend::IOFeatures m_ioFeatures;
     std::shared_ptr<QNonContiguousByteDevice> uploadByteDevice;
-    QIODevice *wrappedUploadByteDevice;
+    QIODevice *wrappedUploadByteDevice = nullptr;
     QNetworkReplyImplPrivate *m_reply = nullptr;
     QNetworkAccessManagerPrivate *m_manager = nullptr;