diff --git a/lib/shadowlog.c b/lib/shadowlog.c
index d20d64fe..7bcc63ca 100644
--- a/lib/shadowlog.c
+++ b/lib/shadowlog.c
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 
 #include "lib/shadowlog_internal.h"
 
-const char *shadow_progname;
-FILE *shadow_logfd;
+const char *shadow_progname = "libshadow";
+FILE *shadow_logfd = NULL;
 
 void log_set_progname(const char *progname)
 {