diff --git a/src/base_page.c b/src/base_page.c
index 4013b30..3f27dc2 100644
--- a/src/base_page.c
+++ b/src/base_page.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ void render_base_page(struct base_page* page, struct session* ssn, mastodont_t*
     // Mastodont, used for notifications sidebar
     struct mstdnt_storage storage = { 0 };
     struct mstdnt_notification* notifs = NULL;
-    size_t notifs_len;
+    size_t notifs_len = 0;
 
     read_config(ssn);
 
diff --git a/src/notifications.c b/src/notifications.c
index 0147ba6..6d349f2 100644
--- a/src/notifications.c
+++ b/src/notifications.c
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ char* construct_notification_compact(struct session* ssn,
                                      int* size)
 {
     char* notif_html;
-    char* status_format;
+    char* status_format = NULL;
     char* notif_stats = NULL;
 
     const char* type_str = notification_type_compact_str(notif->type);
@@ -106,9 +106,6 @@ char* construct_notification_compact(struct session* ssn,
                                         notif->status->emojis,
                                         notif->status->emojis_len);
     }
-    else {
-        status_format = NULL;
-    }
 
     size_t s = easprintf(&notif_html, data_notification_compact_html,
                          notif->account->avatar,
@@ -127,7 +124,8 @@ char* construct_notification_compact(struct session* ssn,
 
     if (size) *size = s;
 
-    if (status_format) free(status_format);
+    if (status_format &&
+        status_format != notif->status->content) free(status_format);
     if (notif_stats) free(notif_stats);
     return notif_html;
 }