diff --git a/sched/misc/coredump.c b/sched/misc/coredump.c
index 9d00b080a3..e3c7e12e68 100644
--- a/sched/misc/coredump.c
+++ b/sched/misc/coredump.c
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ static int elf_emit_align(FAR struct elf_dumpinfo_s *cinfo)
                         ELF_PAGESIZE) - cinfo->stream->nput;
   unsigned char null[256];
   off_t total = align;
-  off_t ret;
+  off_t ret = 0;
 
   memset(null, 0, sizeof(null));