diff --git a/src/vars.c b/src/vars.c
index 4c5f88b89..27fc23d11 100644
--- a/src/vars.c
+++ b/src/vars.c
@@ -364,6 +364,7 @@ static int var_set(uint64_t name_hash, enum vars_scope scope, struct sample *smp
 		LIST_APPEND(&vars->head, &var->l);
 		var->name_hash = name_hash;
 		var->flags = flags & VF_PERMANENT;
+		var->data.type = SMP_T_ANY;
 	}
 
 	/* Set type. */