diff --git a/sanic/mixins/startup.py b/sanic/mixins/startup.py
index 7dd64abf16..8723668aa3 100644
--- a/sanic/mixins/startup.py
+++ b/sanic/mixins/startup.py
@@ -1033,6 +1033,7 @@ def serve(
 
         socks = []
         sync_manager = Manager()
+        worker_state: Mapping[str, Any] = { "state": "NONE" }
         setup_ext(primary)
         exit_code = 0
         try: