diff --git a/windows/winsftp.c b/windows/winsftp.c
index 525f0bf2..c786f7a6 100644
--- a/windows/winsftp.c
+++ b/windows/winsftp.c
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ int seek_file(WFile *f, uint64 offset, int whence)
 uint64 get_file_posn(WFile *f)
 {
     uint64 ret;
-    LONG lo, hi;
+    LONG lo, hi = 0;
 
     lo = SetFilePointer(f->h, 0L, &hi, FILE_CURRENT);
     ret.lo = lo;