diff --git a/src/eval.c b/src/eval.c
index e2f40f0..3650c34 100644
--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/src/eval.c
@@ -5371,6 +5371,8 @@
     }
 #endif
 
+    init_tv(&var1);
+    init_tv(&var2);
     if (**arg == '.')
     {
 	/*