diff --git a/ext/sqlite/sqlite.c b/ext/sqlite/sqlite.c
index 23cdab56d13..35c5e9c56df 100644
--- a/ext/sqlite/sqlite.c
+++ b/ext/sqlite/sqlite.c
@@ -1173,6 +1173,7 @@ PHP_FUNCTION(sqlite_popen)
 	}
 	if (errmsg) {
 		zval_dtor(errmsg);
+		ZVAL_NULL(errmsg);
 	}
 
 	if (strncmp(filename, ":memory:", sizeof(":memory:") - 1)) {
@@ -1248,6 +1249,7 @@ PHP_FUNCTION(sqlite_open)
 	}
 	if (errmsg) {
 		zval_dtor(errmsg);
+		ZVAL_NULL(errmsg);
 	}
 
 	if (strncmp(filename, ":memory:", sizeof(":memory:") - 1)) {
@@ -1302,6 +1304,7 @@ PHP_FUNCTION(sqlite_factory)
 	}
 	if (errmsg) {
 		zval_dtor(errmsg);
+		ZVAL_NULL(errmsg);
 	}
 
 	if (strncmp(filename, ":memory:", sizeof(":memory:") - 1)) {