diff --git a/api/format/slave.c b/api/format/slave.c
index fcdfff50d2234945b0669f05c331ca3ac362ade4..b491f0a705a73cc6267867dfb9f0855f756dbd10 100644
--- a/api/format/slave.c
+++ b/api/format/slave.c
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ void eb_device_slave(eb_socket_t socketp, eb_transport_t transportp, eb_device_t
     passive = device->passive == devicep;
     active = !passive;
   } else {
+    device = 0; /* silence warning */
+    
     linkp = EB_NULL;
     link = 0;