diff --git a/cde/lib/DtHelp/Format.c b/cde/lib/DtHelp/Format.c
index b9d02df0d..bb5bf309a 100644
--- a/cde/lib/DtHelp/Format.c
+++ b/cde/lib/DtHelp/Format.c
@@ -1182,7 +1182,7 @@ _DtHelpFormatToc (
     XtPointer			 *ret_handle)
 {
     int             result   = 0;
-    _DtCvTopicPtr    topic;
+    _DtCvTopicPtr    topic = NULL;
     _DtHelpCeLockInfo lockInfo;
 
     if (volume == NULL || id == NULL)