diff --git a/lib/kadm5/ipropd_slave.c b/lib/kadm5/ipropd_slave.c
index 9af9bdcaf..cb294bb4c 100644
--- a/lib/kadm5/ipropd_slave.c
+++ b/lib/kadm5/ipropd_slave.c
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
     krb5_ccache ccache;
     krb5_principal server;
     char **files;
-    int optidx;
+    int optidx = 0;
     time_t reconnect_min;
     time_t backoff;
     time_t reconnect_max;