diff --git a/src/joystick/windows/SDL_rawinputjoystick.c b/src/joystick/windows/SDL_rawinputjoystick.c
index d5166def0a..d135382e5d 100644
--- a/src/joystick/windows/SDL_rawinputjoystick.c
+++ b/src/joystick/windows/SDL_rawinputjoystick.c
@@ -909,9 +909,11 @@ static void RAWINPUT_AddDevice(HANDLE hDevice)
         char *product_string = NULL;
         WCHAR string[128];
 
+        string[0] = 0;
         if (SDL_HidD_GetManufacturerString(hFile, string, sizeof(string))) {
             manufacturer_string = WIN_StringToUTF8W(string);
         }
+        string[0] = 0;
         if (SDL_HidD_GetProductString(hFile, string, sizeof(string))) {
             product_string = WIN_StringToUTF8W(string);
         }