diff --git a/src/rgw/rgw_object_expirer_core.h b/src/rgw/rgw_object_expirer_core.h
index a42482942d73f..26751655d8940 100644
--- a/src/rgw/rgw_object_expirer_core.h
+++ b/src/rgw/rgw_object_expirer_core.h
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ class RGWObjectExpirer {
     void stop();
   };
 
-  OEWorker *worker;
+  OEWorker *worker{nullptr};
   std::atomic<bool> down_flag = { false };
 
 public: