diff --git a/bfd/elf-eh-frame.c b/bfd/elf-eh-frame.c
index 902d7c16334..ebe162f2e5f 100644
--- a/bfd/elf-eh-frame.c
+++ b/bfd/elf-eh-frame.c
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ next_cie_fde_offset (const struct eh_cie_fde *ent,
 static bool
 skip_cfa_op (bfd_byte **iter, bfd_byte *end, unsigned int encoded_ptr_width)
 {
-  bfd_byte op;
+  bfd_byte op = 0;
   bfd_vma length;
 
   if (!read_byte (iter, end, &op))