diff --git a/misc/create_inode.c b/misc/create_inode.c
index fd5cb21f..5122e56c 100644
--- a/misc/create_inode.c
+++ b/misc/create_inode.c
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ static errcode_t try_lseek_copy(ext2_filsys fs, int fd, struct stat *statbuf,
 {
 	off_t data = 0, hole;
 	off_t data_blk, hole_blk;
-	errcode_t err;
+	errcode_t err = 0;
 
 	/* Try to use SEEK_DATA and SEEK_HOLE */
 	while (data < statbuf->st_size) {