diff --git a/arch/arm/boards/vexpress/init.c b/arch/arm/boards/vexpress/init.c
index 48bc11e..72a3b08 100644
--- a/arch/arm/boards/vexpress/init.c
+++ b/arch/arm/boards/vexpress/init.c
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@
 
 static int vexpress_core_init(void)
 {
-	char *hostname;
+	char *hostname = "vexpress-unknown";
 
 	if (amba_is_arm_sp804(IOMEM(0x10011000))) {
 		v2m_init = &vexpress_init_a9_legacy;