diff --git a/sys/dev/e1000/if_em.c b/sys/dev/e1000/if_em.c
--- a/sys/dev/e1000/if_em.c
+++ b/sys/dev/e1000/if_em.c
@@ -1671,6 +1671,7 @@
 			goto em_set_next_itr;
 		}
 
+		bytes = bytes_packets = 0;
 		/* Get largest values from the associated tx and rx ring */
 		if (txr->tx_bytes && txr->tx_packets) {
 			bytes = txr->tx_bytes;