diff --git a/src/attributes/seenspell.c b/src/attributes/seenspell.c
index b6edd3d98..c2b9c7c75 100644
--- a/src/attributes/seenspell.c
+++ b/src/attributes/seenspell.c
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 static int read_seenspells(variant *var, void *owner, struct gamedata *data)
 {
-    selist *ql;
+    selist *ql = NULL;
     storage *store = data->store;
     spell *sp = 0;
     char token[32];