diff --git a/regcomp.c b/regcomp.c
index 0d6ad6f9f4f8..2790025bf1ef 100644
--- a/regcomp.c
+++ b/regcomp.c
@@ -19305,7 +19305,7 @@ S_optimize_regclass(pTHX_
 
     U8 op = END;    /* The returned node-type, initialized to an impossible
                        one.  */
-    UV value;
+    UV value = 0;
     PERL_UINT_FAST8_T i;
     UV partial_cp_count = 0;
     UV start[MAX_FOLD_FROMS+1] = { 0 }; /* +1 for the folded-to char */