diff --git a/nestegg/src/nestegg.c b/nestegg/src/nestegg.c
index 4fb10e7..b6bc460 100644
--- a/nestegg/src/nestegg.c
+++ b/nestegg/src/nestegg.c
@@ -934,7 +934,7 @@ static int
 ne_read_simple(nestegg * ctx, struct ebml_element_desc * desc, size_t length)
 {
   struct ebml_type * storage;
-  int r;
+  int r = 0;
 
   storage = (struct ebml_type *) (ctx->ancestor->data + desc->offset);
 
@@ -968,7 +968,6 @@ ne_read_simple(nestegg * ctx, struct ebml_element_desc * desc, size_t length)
   case TYPE_MASTER:
   case TYPE_UNKNOWN:
     assert(0);
-    r = 0;
     break;
   }