diff --git a/notes.c b/notes.c
index e425e1982..cc92cf351 100644
--- a/notes.c
+++ b/notes.c
@@ -716,7 +716,7 @@ static int write_each_non_note_until(const char *note_path,
 		struct write_each_note_data *d)
 {
 	struct non_note *n = d->next_non_note;
-	int cmp, ret;
+	int cmp = 0, ret;
 	while (n && (!note_path || (cmp = strcmp(n->path, note_path)) <= 0)) {
 		if (note_path && cmp == 0)
 			; /* do nothing, prefer note to non-note */