diff --git a/lib/krb5/send_to_kdc.c b/lib/krb5/send_to_kdc.c
index 5d21e4077..a4542c057 100644
--- a/lib/krb5/send_to_kdc.c
+++ b/lib/krb5/send_to_kdc.c
@@ -1073,7 +1073,7 @@ krb5_sendto_context(krb5_context context,
 		    krb5_const_realm realm,
 		    krb5_data *receive)
 {
-    krb5_error_code ret;
+    krb5_error_code ret = 0;
     krb5_krbhst_handle handle = NULL;
     struct timeval nrstart, nrstop, stop_time;
     int type, freectx = 0;