diff --git a/src/eval.c b/src/eval.c
index 33b1947..4d45ae2 100644
--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/src/eval.c
@@ -880,6 +880,7 @@
 	    hash_add(&compat_hashtab, p->vv_di.di_key);
     }
     set_vim_var_nr(VV_SEARCHFORWARD, 1L);
+    set_reg_var(0);  /* default for v:register is not 0 but '"' */
 
 #ifdef EBCDIC
     /*