diff --git a/src/nvim/eval.c b/src/nvim/eval.c
index 4ec8697c04..683d3b880f 100644
--- a/src/nvim/eval.c
+++ b/src/nvim/eval.c
@@ -2655,6 +2655,8 @@ int eval0_simple_funccal(char *arg, typval_T *rettv, exarg_T *eap, evalarg_T *co
 /// @return  OK or FAIL.
 int eval1(char **arg, typval_T *rettv, evalarg_T *const evalarg)
 {
+  CLEAR_POINTER(rettv);
+
   // Get the first variable.
   if (eval2(arg, rettv, evalarg) == FAIL) {
     return FAIL;