diff --git a/src/ex_docmd.c b/src/ex_docmd.c
index b5d76c1..60bbb5f 100644
--- a/src/ex_docmd.c
+++ b/src/ex_docmd.c
@@ -5916,7 +5916,7 @@
     char_u	*q;
 
     char_u	*start;
-    char_u	*end;
+    char_u	*end = NULL;
     char_u	*ksp;
     size_t	len, totlen;