diff --git a/exec.c b/exec.c
index 5420f564b..4641b3eb6 100644
--- a/exec.c
+++ b/exec.c
@@ -2774,7 +2774,7 @@ static void *file_ram_alloc(RAMBlock *block,
 static ram_addr_t find_ram_offset(ram_addr_t size)
 {
     RAMBlock *block, *next_block;
-    ram_addr_t offset, mingap = ULONG_MAX;
+    ram_addr_t offset = 0, mingap = ULONG_MAX;
 
     if (QLIST_EMPTY(&ram_list.blocks))
         return 0;