diff --git a/lib/krb5/fcache.c b/lib/krb5/fcache.c
index b4a7bfe70..2c8f2993e 100644
--- a/lib/krb5/fcache.c
+++ b/lib/krb5/fcache.c
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ fcc_initialize(krb5_context context,
 	       krb5_principal primary_principal)
 {
     krb5_fcache *f = FCACHE(id);
-    int ret;
+    int ret = 0;
     int fd;
     char *filename = f->filename;