diff --git a/src/backend/distributed/test/metadata_sync.c b/src/backend/distributed/test/metadata_sync.c
index e36fc4ce7..95378ff0b 100644
--- a/src/backend/distributed/test/metadata_sync.c
+++ b/src/backend/distributed/test/metadata_sync.c
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ activate_node_snapshot(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS)
 		list_make1(LocalGroupIdUpdateCommand(dummyWorkerNode->groupId));
 	List *dropMetadataCommandList = DropExistingMetadataCommandList();
 	ActivateNodeContext context;
+	context.commandList = NIL;
 	context.fetchCommands = true;
 	SyncDistributedObjects(context);
 	List *syncDistObjCommands = context.commandList;