diff --git a/contrib/bc/bc/load.c b/contrib/bc/bc/load.c
index 40b8051e4e48..dd03435277fe 100644
--- a/contrib/bc/bc/load.c
+++ b/contrib/bc/bc/load.c
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ load_code (code)
   long  label_no;
   long  vaf_name;	/* variable, array or function number. */
   long  func;
-  program_counter save_adr;
+  static program_counter save_adr;
 
   /* Initialize. */
   str = code;