diff --git a/src/unix/mimetype.cpp b/src/unix/mimetype.cpp
index a78e5ee7f5..eda69158e7 100644
--- a/src/unix/mimetype.cpp
+++ b/src/unix/mimetype.cpp
@@ -2203,7 +2203,7 @@ bool wxMimeTypesManagerImpl::ReadMailcap(const wxString& strFileName,
         // the flags and field values on the current line
         bool needsterminal = FALSE,
              copiousoutput = FALSE;
-        wxMimeArrayString *entry;
+        wxMimeArrayString *entry = NULL; // suppress compiler warning
 
         wxString strType,
                  strOpenCmd,