diff --git a/cmd/containerd-shim-runhcs-v1/service_internal.go b/cmd/containerd-shim-runhcs-v1/service_internal.go
index d216bb626c..09bbf8cea5 100644
--- a/cmd/containerd-shim-runhcs-v1/service_internal.go
+++ b/cmd/containerd-shim-runhcs-v1/service_internal.go
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func (s *service) stateInternal(ctx context.Context, req *task.StateRequest) (*t
 func (s *service) createInternal(ctx context.Context, req *task.CreateTaskRequest) (*task.CreateTaskResponse, error) {
 	setupDebuggerEvent()
 
-	var shimOpts *runhcsopts.Options
+	shimOpts := &runhcsopts.Options{}
 	if req.Options != nil {
 		v, err := typeurl.UnmarshalAny(req.Options)
 		if err != nil {