diff --git a/edit.c b/edit.c
index bc925614..a5a84cc9 100644
--- a/edit.c
+++ b/edit.c
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ public int edit_ifile(IFILE ifile)
 	IFILE was_curr_ifile;
 	char *p;
 	PARG parg;
-	ssize_t nread;
+	ssize_t nread = 0;
 
 	if (ifile == curr_ifile)
 	{