diff --git a/src/invent.c b/src/invent.c
index 228eacd12..29a4026ef 100644
--- a/src/invent.c
+++ b/src/invent.c
@@ -2567,7 +2567,7 @@ reroll_menu(void)
     struct obj *otmp;
     int tmpglyph;
     glyph_info tmpglyphinfo;
-    char option;
+    char option = 'n';
     char buf[BUFSZ];
 
     win = create_nhwindow(NHW_MENU);