diff --git a/src/robotfindskitten.c b/src/robotfindskitten.c
index d411d44..73da184 100644
--- a/src/robotfindskitten.c
+++ b/src/robotfindskitten.c
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ static void add_message ( char *msg, size_t len ) {
 
 static void read_file ( char *fname ) {
 	int fd;
-	char ch, *buff, *buff2;
+	char ch, *buff=NULL, *buff2;
 	size_t len, alloc;
 
 	len = 0;