diff --git a/pkg/util/utils.go b/pkg/util/utils.go
index a6f52cb3e6..d327d152ce 100644
--- a/pkg/util/utils.go
+++ b/pkg/util/utils.go
@@ -316,6 +316,7 @@ func GetDefaultStoreOptions() (storage.StoreOptions, string, error) {
 
 		storageConf := filepath.Join(os.Getenv("HOME"), ".config/containers/storage.conf")
 		if _, err := os.Stat(storageConf); err == nil {
+			storageOpts = storage.StoreOptions{}
 			storage.ReloadConfigurationFile(storageConf, &storageOpts)
 		} else if os.IsNotExist(err) {
 			os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(storageConf), 0755)