diff --git a/src/box/alter.cc b/src/box/alter.cc
index e638aa250d44cbd25038f179f3e42bd764b98c05..6e2c55d1df84f5e128d1ed2979bef03292370333 100644
--- a/src/box/alter.cc
+++ b/src/box/alter.cc
@@ -1467,7 +1467,7 @@ grant_or_revoke(struct priv_def *priv)
 	struct user *grantee = user_cache_find(priv->grantee_id);
 	if (grantee == NULL)
 		return;
-	struct access *access;
+	struct access *access = NULL;
 	switch (priv->object_type) {
 	case SC_UNIVERSE:
 		access = &grantee->universal_access;