diff --git a/gsk/gl/gskgltextureatlas.c b/gsk/gl/gskgltextureatlas.c
index fb27bbb7ed..acc6346c9c 100644
--- a/gsk/gl/gskgltextureatlas.c
+++ b/gsk/gl/gskgltextureatlas.c
@@ -136,6 +136,8 @@ gsk_gl_texture_atlases_pack (GskGLTextureAtlases *atlases,
   g_assert (width  < ATLAS_SIZE);
   g_assert (height < ATLAS_SIZE);
 
+  atlas = NULL;
+
   for (i = 0; i < atlases->atlases->len; i++)
     {
       atlas = g_ptr_array_index (atlases->atlases, i);