diff --git a/src/cmd.c b/src/cmd.c
index 8c830b9c3..586a67844 100644
--- a/src/cmd.c
+++ b/src/cmd.c
@@ -901,7 +901,7 @@ STATIC_PTR int
 wiz_level_change(VOID_ARGS)
 {
     char buf[BUFSZ] = DUMMY;
-    int newlevel;
+    int newlevel = 0;
     int ret;
 
     getlin("To what experience level do you want to be set?", buf);