diff --git a/src/nvim/tag.c b/src/nvim/tag.c
index 61d48eb4bf..c63cdad098 100644
--- a/src/nvim/tag.c
+++ b/src/nvim/tag.c
@@ -1467,6 +1467,7 @@ find_tags(
 
   help_save = curbuf->b_help;
   orgpat.pat = pat;
+  orgpat.regmatch.regprog = NULL;
   vimconv.vc_type = CONV_NONE;
 
   /*