diff --git a/src/dbus-job.c b/src/dbus-job.c
index b66d23604..908ddba53 100644
--- a/src/dbus-job.c
+++ b/src/dbus-job.c
@@ -198,6 +198,8 @@ static DBusHandlerResult bus_job_message_handler(DBusConnection *connection, DBu
 
                 if (r == -ENOENT) {
                         DBusError e;
+
+                        dbus_error_init(&e);
                         dbus_set_error_const(&e, DBUS_ERROR_UNKNOWN_OBJECT, "Unknown job");
                         return bus_send_error_reply(m, connection, message, &e, r);
                 }
diff --git a/src/dbus-unit.c b/src/dbus-unit.c
index 52e8599e7..563ef7079 100644
--- a/src/dbus-unit.c
+++ b/src/dbus-unit.c
@@ -568,6 +568,8 @@ static DBusHandlerResult bus_unit_message_handler(DBusConnection *connection, DB
 
                 if (r == -ENOENT) {
                         DBusError e;
+
+                        dbus_error_init(&e);
                         dbus_set_error_const(&e, DBUS_ERROR_UNKNOWN_OBJECT, "Unknown unit");
                         return bus_send_error_reply(m, connection, message, &e, r);
                 }