diff --git a/src/vol/namei_ops.c b/src/vol/namei_ops.c
index 32f628ab2d..824a8a6249 100644
--- a/src/vol/namei_ops.c
+++ b/src/vol/namei_ops.c
@@ -1144,6 +1144,8 @@ ListViceInodes(char *devname, char *mountedOn, char *resultFile,
     int ninodes;
     struct afs_stat status;
 
+    *forcep = 0; /* no need to salvage until further notice */
+
     if (resultFile) {
 	fp = afs_fopen(resultFile, "w");
 	if (!fp) {