diff --git a/src/modules/sway/window.cpp b/src/modules/sway/window.cpp
index 64f72521..e9203451 100644
--- a/src/modules/sway/window.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/sway/window.cpp
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ std::tuple<std::size_t, int, std::string, std::string> gfnWithWorkspace(
 
 std::tuple<std::size_t, int, std::string, std::string> Window::getFocusedNode(
     const Json::Value& nodes, std::string& output) {
+  Json::Value placeholder = 0;
   return gfnWithWorkspace(nodes, output, config_, bar_, placeholder);
 }