diff --git a/bin/sh/expand.c b/bin/sh/expand.c
index e1c1a2ec588e..193d65177e74 100644
--- a/bin/sh/expand.c
+++ b/bin/sh/expand.c
@@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ evalvar(char *p, int flag)
 	int varlenb;
 	int easy;
 	int quotes = flag & (EXP_FULL | EXP_CASE);
-	int record;
+	int record = 0;
 
 	varflags = (unsigned char)*p++;
 	subtype = varflags & VSTYPE;