diff --git a/src/libadmin/test/pts.c b/src/libadmin/test/pts.c
index b6f50a563b..9007d415b7 100644
--- a/src/libadmin/test/pts.c
+++ b/src/libadmin/test/pts.c
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ DoPtsUserCreate(struct cmd_syndesc *as, void *arock)
     enum { USER };
     afs_status_t st = 0;
     char *user = as->parms[USER].items->data;
-    int new_user_id;
+    int new_user_id = 0;
 
     if (!pts_UserCreate(cellHandle, user, &new_user_id, &st)) {
 	ERR_ST_EXT("pts_UserCreate", st);