diff --git a/Python/ast.c b/Python/ast.c
index 4a85164..6ccd02f 100644
--- a/Python/ast.c
+++ b/Python/ast.c
@@ -2440,7 +2440,7 @@
         int n_children;
         int idx, ndots = 0;
         alias_ty mod = NULL;
-        identifier modname;
+        identifier modname = NULL;
         
        /* Count the number of dots (for relative imports) and check for the
           optional module name */
@@ -2504,8 +2504,6 @@
         }
         if (mod != NULL)
             modname = mod->name;
-        else
-            modname = new_identifier("", c->c_arena);
         return ImportFrom(modname, aliases, ndots, lineno, col_offset,
                           c->c_arena);
     }