diff --git a/src/quant.c b/src/quant.c
index 14fc5eaa..4075958d 100644
--- a/src/quant.c
+++ b/src/quant.c
@@ -921,7 +921,7 @@ lookup_normal(unsigned char const * const pixel,
     int r;
     int i;
     int n;
-    int distant;
+    int distant = 0;
 
     index = -1;
     diff = INT_MAX;