diff --git a/c/src/exec/score/cpu/unix/cpu.c b/c/src/exec/score/cpu/unix/cpu.c
index 6c0f271c5e..8b9c3154fb 100644
--- a/c/src/exec/score/cpu/unix/cpu.c
+++ b/c/src/exec/score/cpu/unix/cpu.c
@@ -817,7 +817,7 @@ void _CPU_SHM_Init(
   char        *shm_addr;
   key_t        shm_key;
   key_t        sem_key;
-  int          status;
+  int          status = 0;
   int          shm_size;
 
   if (getenv("RTEMS_SHM_KEY"))
diff --git a/cpukit/score/cpu/unix/cpu.c b/cpukit/score/cpu/unix/cpu.c
index 6c0f271c5e..8b9c3154fb 100644
--- a/cpukit/score/cpu/unix/cpu.c
+++ b/cpukit/score/cpu/unix/cpu.c
@@ -817,7 +817,7 @@ void _CPU_SHM_Init(
   char        *shm_addr;
   key_t        shm_key;
   key_t        sem_key;
-  int          status;
+  int          status = 0;
   int          shm_size;
 
   if (getenv("RTEMS_SHM_KEY"))