diff --git a/src/widgets/helper/ChannelView.hpp b/src/widgets/helper/ChannelView.hpp
index 8e5bfa53..c27652f3 100644
--- a/src/widgets/helper/ChannelView.hpp
+++ b/src/widgets/helper/ChannelView.hpp
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ private:
     QTimer scrollTimer_;
 
     // We're only interested in the pointer, not the contents
-    MessageLayout *highlightedMessage_;
+    MessageLayout *highlightedMessage_ = nullptr;
     QVariantAnimation highlightAnimation_;
     void setupHighlightAnimationColors();