diff --git a/src/sim65/main.c b/src/sim65/main.c
index 9e371fd5d..27299168e 100644
--- a/src/sim65/main.c
+++ b/src/sim65/main.c
@@ -189,6 +189,7 @@ static unsigned char ReadProgramFile (void)
     }
 
     /* Get load address */
+    Val2 = 0; /* suppress uninitialized variable warning */
     if (((Val = fgetc(F)) == EOF) ||
         ((Val2 = fgetc(F)) == EOF)) {
         Error ("'%s': Header missing load address", ProgramFile);