diff --git a/orte/mca/rtc/hwloc/rtc_hwloc.c b/orte/mca/rtc/hwloc/rtc_hwloc.c
index 51c9565570..1a5190007a 100644
--- a/orte/mca/rtc/hwloc/rtc_hwloc.c
+++ b/orte/mca/rtc/hwloc/rtc_hwloc.c
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ static void set(orte_job_t *jobdat,
     hwloc_obj_t root;
     opal_hwloc_topo_data_t *sum;
     orte_app_context_t *context;
-    int rc;
+    int rc=ORTE_ERROR;
     char *msg, *param;
     char *cpu_bitmap;