diff --git a/usr.bin/indent/indent.c b/usr.bin/indent/indent.c
index bd654a895d17..9917960446a8 100644
--- a/usr.bin/indent/indent.c
+++ b/usr.bin/indent/indent.c
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
     be_save = 0;
 
     output = 0;
+    tabs_to_var = 0;
 
     /*--------------------------------------------------*\
     |   		COMMAND LINE SCAN		 |