diff --git a/src/jerasure.c b/src/jerasure.c
index 571b156..bb577af 100644
--- a/src/jerasure.c
+++ b/src/jerasure.c
@@ -1240,7 +1240,7 @@ int **jerasure_smart_bitmatrix_to_schedule(int k, int m, int w, int *bitmatrix)
   int *diff, *from, *b1, *flink, *blink;
   int *ptr, no, row;
   int optodo;
-  int bestrow, bestdiff, top;
+  int bestrow = 0, bestdiff, top;
 
 /*   printf("Scheduling:\n\n");
   jerasure_print_bitmatrix(bitmatrix, m*w, k*w, w); */