diff --git a/standard/variables.md b/standard/variables.md
index 658d681b8..01fb5f036 100644
--- a/standard/variables.md
+++ b/standard/variables.md
@@ -160,7 +160,8 @@ The default value of a variable depends on the type of the variable and is deter
 
 - For a variable of a *value_type*, the default value is the same as the value computed by the *value_type*’s default constructor ([§8.3.3](types.md#833-default-constructors)).
 - For a variable of a *reference_type*, the default value is `null`.
-
+- In an unsafe context, for a variable of a *pointer_type*, the default value is `null`.
+ 
 > *Note*: Initialization to default values is typically done by having the memory manager or garbage collector initialize memory to all-bits-zero before it is allocated for use. For this reason, it is convenient to use all-bits-zero to represent the null reference. *end note*
 
 ## 9.4 Definite assignment