diff --git a/src/generic/datavgen.cpp b/src/generic/datavgen.cpp
index a640773ce3..631cfecd76 100644
--- a/src/generic/datavgen.cpp
+++ b/src/generic/datavgen.cpp
@@ -4437,6 +4437,7 @@ void wxDataViewCtrl::Init()
     m_sortingColumnIdx = wxNOT_FOUND;
 
     m_headerArea = NULL;
+    m_clientArea = NULL;
 
     m_colsDirty = false;
 }