diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/btf_dump.c b/tools/lib/bpf/btf_dump.c
index 0a7327541c17..46cce18c8308 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/btf_dump.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/btf_dump.c
@@ -867,8 +867,8 @@ static void btf_dump_emit_bit_padding(const struct btf_dump *d,
 	} pads[] = {
 		{"long", d->ptr_sz * 8}, {"int", 32}, {"short", 16}, {"char", 8}
 	};
-	int new_off, pad_bits, bits, i;
-	const char *pad_type;
+	int new_off = 0, pad_bits = 0, bits, i;
+	const char *pad_type = NULL;
 
 	if (cur_off >= next_off)
 		return; /* no gap */