diff --git a/lisp/telnet.el b/lisp/telnet.el
index 3b2fbc8f9e8..034c0341a6f 100644
--- a/lisp/telnet.el
+++ b/lisp/telnet.el
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
 
 (require 'comint)
 
-(defvar telnet-host-properties
+(defvar telnet-host-properties ()
   "Specify which telnet program to use for particular hosts.
 Each element has the form (HOSTNAME PROGRAM [LOGIN-NAME])
 HOSTNAME says which machine the element applies to.