diff --git a/src/mldap.c b/src/mldap.c
index 0c8327c..3261161 100644
--- a/src/mldap.c
+++ b/src/mldap.c
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ mldap_iter_deadnodes_next(mldapdb_t *mldap, metadb_iter_t **iterp,
 	isc_result_t result;
 	dns_dbnode_t *rbt_node = NULL;
 	metadb_iter_t *iter = NULL;
-	isc_uint32_t node_generation;
+	isc_uint32_t node_generation = 0; /* GCC */
 	isc_uint32_t cur_generation;
 	metadb_node_t metadb_node;
 	DECLARE_BUFFERED_NAME(name);