diff --git a/device.c b/device.c
index 62395be5..2ad67849 100644
--- a/device.c
+++ b/device.c
@@ -243,6 +243,7 @@ SR_PRIV struct sr_dev_inst *sr_dev_inst_new(int index, int status,
 	sdi->model = model ? g_strdup(model) : NULL;
 	sdi->version = version ? g_strdup(version) : NULL;
 	sdi->probes = NULL;
+	sdi->conn = NULL;
 	sdi->priv = NULL;
 
 	return sdi;
diff --git a/libsigrok.h b/libsigrok.h
index 6c34c384..069e446f 100644
--- a/libsigrok.h
+++ b/libsigrok.h
@@ -704,6 +704,7 @@ struct sr_dev_inst {
 	char *model;
 	char *version;
 	GSList *probes;
+	void *conn;
 	void *priv;
 };