diff --git a/cde/programs/dtfile/File.c b/cde/programs/dtfile/File.c
index 68397facf..a3a11c3f9 100644
--- a/cde/programs/dtfile/File.c
+++ b/cde/programs/dtfile/File.c
@@ -4936,7 +4936,7 @@ DropOnRootCB (
    int effScreenHeight;
    int start_x = 0, start_y = 0;
    int root_x, root_y;
-   int step, dstep;
+   int step = 0, dstep;
 
    /* Check the protocol, set to failure if not the */
    /* File Transfer protocol                        */