diff --git a/src/search.c b/src/search.c
index b3ff18f..23dc27e 100644
--- a/src/search.c
+++ b/src/search.c
@@ -4509,7 +4509,7 @@
     int		result;		/* result of various function calls */
     char_u	old_p_ws = p_ws;
     int		flags = 0;
-    pos_T	save_VIsual;
+    pos_T	save_VIsual = VIsual;
     int		one_char;
 
     /* wrapping should not occur */
@@ -4522,7 +4522,6 @@
     if (VIsual_active)
     {
 	orig_pos = curwin->w_cursor;
-	save_VIsual = VIsual;
 
 	pos = curwin->w_cursor;
 	start_pos = VIsual;