diff --git a/src/d_netfil.c b/src/d_netfil.c
index e51d013ed..09a891721 100644
--- a/src/d_netfil.c
+++ b/src/d_netfil.c
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ INT32 curl_transfers = 0;
 static int curl_runninghandles = 0;
 static UINT32 curl_origfilesize;
 static UINT32 curl_origtotalfilesize;
-static char *curl_realname = '\0';
+static char *curl_realname = NULL;
 fileneeded_t *curl_curfile = NULL;
 #endif