diff --git a/net/netfilter/ipvs/ip_vs_core.c b/net/netfilter/ipvs/ip_vs_core.c
index d2ac530a9501..aa6a603a2425 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/ipvs/ip_vs_core.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/ipvs/ip_vs_core.c
@@ -1663,7 +1663,7 @@ ip_vs_in_icmp(struct netns_ipvs *ipvs, struct sk_buff *skb, int *related,
 	unsigned int offset, offset2, ihl, verdict;
 	bool tunnel, new_cp = false;
 	union nf_inet_addr *raddr;
-	char *outer_proto;
+	char *outer_proto = "IPIP";
 
 	*related = 1;
 
@@ -1723,7 +1723,6 @@ ip_vs_in_icmp(struct netns_ipvs *ipvs, struct sk_buff *skb, int *related,
 		if (cih == NULL)
 			return NF_ACCEPT; /* The packet looks wrong, ignore */
 		tunnel = true;
-		outer_proto = "IPIP";
 	} else if ((cih->protocol == IPPROTO_UDP ||	/* Can be UDP encap */
 		    cih->protocol == IPPROTO_GRE) &&	/* Can be GRE encap */
 		   /* Error for our tunnel must arrive at LOCAL_IN */