diff --git a/src/eval.c b/src/eval.c
index da3d2bd..7250556 100644
--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/src/eval.c
@@ -2734,6 +2734,8 @@
 		    prevval = key[len];
 		    key[len] = NUL;
 		}
+		else
+		    prevval = 0; /* avoid compiler warning */
 		wrong = (lp->ll_dict->dv_scope == VAR_DEF_SCOPE
 			       && rettv->v_type == VAR_FUNC
 			       && var_check_func_name(key, lp->ll_di == NULL))