diff --git a/src/tools/psched/state.c b/src/tools/psched/state.c
index 0eeaf59890..8dbc97d293 100644
--- a/src/tools/psched/state.c
+++ b/src/tools/psched/state.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 #include "psched.h"
 
 /* global variables */
-pmix_list_t prte_psched_states;
+pmix_list_t prte_psched_states = PMIX_LIST_STATIC_INIT;
 
 /*
  * Module functions: Global