diff --git a/src/spell.c b/src/spell.c
index f72325b..30a02ab 100644
--- a/src/spell.c
+++ b/src/spell.c
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@
     int		region = REGION_ALL;
     int		wlen;
     winfo_T	*wi;
-    dword_T	*dw, *edw;
+    dword_T	*dw, *edw = NULL;
     nword_T	*nw = NULL;
     int		flags;
     char_u	*save_sourcing_name = sourcing_name;