diff --git a/lib/pidfile.c b/lib/pidfile.c
index 830d3f35..426cbf39 100644
--- a/lib/pidfile.c
+++ b/lib/pidfile.c
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
 pid_t read_pid (char *pidfile)
 {
   FILE *f;
-  long pid;
+  long pid = 0;
 
   if (!(f=fopen(pidfile,"r")))
     return 0;