diff --git a/tools/gpg-pair-tool.c b/tools/gpg-pair-tool.c
index 347b29d24..9a781def1 100644
--- a/tools/gpg-pair-tool.c
+++ b/tools/gpg-pair-tool.c
@@ -976,7 +976,7 @@ read_message (unsigned char **r_msg, size_t *r_msglen, int *r_msgtype,
 static gpg_error_t
 display_sas (const unsigned char *hash, size_t hashlen, int wait)
 {
-  gpg_error_t err;
+  gpg_error_t err = 0;
   unsigned long sas = 0;
   char sasbuf[12];