diff --git a/binutils/strings.c b/binutils/strings.c
index f50badf983e..e8649a80d6a 100644
--- a/binutils/strings.c
+++ b/binutils/strings.c
@@ -924,7 +924,7 @@ print_unicode_stream_body (const char *     filename,
   uint num_read = 0;
   uint num_chars = 0;
   uint num_print = 0;
-  int c;
+  int c = 0;
 
   /* Find a series of string_min characters.  Put them into print_buf.  */
   do