diff --git a/src/misc1.c b/src/misc1.c
index 8700390..d42606f 100644
--- a/src/misc1.c
+++ b/src/misc1.c
@@ -1563,7 +1563,7 @@
     char_u	*list;
     int		middle_match_len = 0;
     char_u	*prev_list;
-    char_u	*saved_flags;
+    char_u	*saved_flags = NULL;
 
     i = 0;
     while (vim_iswhite(line[i]))    /* leading white space is ignored */