diff --git a/x509.go b/x509.go
index ad88537..45b0248 100644
--- a/x509.go
+++ b/x509.go
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ func (tbs *TBSCertificate) ParseIssuer () (RDNSequence, error) {
 }
 
 func (tbs *TBSCertificate) ParseDNSNames () ([]string, error) {
-	var dnsNames []string
+	dnsNames := []string{}
 
 	// Extract Common Name from Subject
 	subject, err := tbs.ParseSubject()