diff --git a/bgpd/bgp_attr.c b/bgpd/bgp_attr.c
index ef1d02ecaf..eefdd9e8ec 100644
--- a/bgpd/bgp_attr.c
+++ b/bgpd/bgp_attr.c
@@ -1947,7 +1947,7 @@ bgp_attr_encap(
 
   while (length >= 4) {
     uint16_t	subtype;
-    uint16_t	sublength;
+    uint16_t	sublength = 0;
     struct bgp_attr_encap_subtlv *tlv;
 
     if (BGP_ATTR_ENCAP == type) {