diff --git a/include/sim.h b/include/sim.h
index fec043ff..07059a0f 100644
--- a/include/sim.h
+++ b/include/sim.h
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ enum ofono_sim_phase {
 	OFONO_SIM_PHASE_2G,
 	OFONO_SIM_PHASE_2G_PLUS,
 	OFONO_SIM_PHASE_3G,
+	OFONO_SIM_PHASE_UNKNOWN,
 };
 
 typedef void (*ofono_sim_file_info_cb_t)(const struct ofono_error *error,
diff --git a/src/sim.c b/src/sim.c
index 087cecd8..91ab0497 100644
--- a/src/sim.c
+++ b/src/sim.c
@@ -1899,6 +1899,7 @@ struct ofono_sim *ofono_sim_create(struct ofono_modem *modem,
 	if (sim == NULL)
 		return NULL;
 
+	sim->phase = OFONO_SIM_PHASE_UNKNOWN;
 	sim->atom = __ofono_modem_add_atom(modem, OFONO_ATOM_TYPE_SIM,
 						sim_remove, sim);