diff --git a/pkg/ping.go b/pkg/ping.go
index c45c84e..121e22b 100644
--- a/pkg/ping.go
+++ b/pkg/ping.go
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ func (sub *Subscriber) SendPing() {
 	// Send a ping, and a refreshed JWT token if the user sent one.
 	var (
 		token string
-		rules map[string]bool
+		rules = map[string]bool{}
 	)
 	if sub.JWTClaims != nil {
 		if jwt, err := sub.JWTClaims.ReSign(); err != nil {