diff --git a/http.c b/http.c
index 051fe6e5ab77a5..a80e2e03ab094b 100644
--- a/http.c
+++ b/http.c
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ static int curl_save_cookies;
 struct credential http_auth = CREDENTIAL_INIT;
 static int http_proactive_auth;
 static const char *user_agent;
-static int curl_empty_auth;
+static int curl_empty_auth = 1;
 
 enum http_follow_config http_follow_config = HTTP_FOLLOW_INITIAL;