diff --git a/include/libcamera/controls.h b/include/libcamera/controls.h
index 9b0d5a545..6668e4bb1 100644
--- a/include/libcamera/controls.h
+++ b/include/libcamera/controls.h
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ public:
 private:
 	bool validate();
 
-	const ControlIdMap *idmap_;
+	const ControlIdMap *idmap_ = nullptr;
 };
 
 class ControlList