diff --git a/channels.c b/channels.c
index 6a78de9d5..e75a0cf9b 100644
--- a/channels.c
+++ b/channels.c
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ channel_new(struct ssh *ssh, char *ctype, int type, int rfd, int wfd, int efd,
     int nonblock)
 {
 	struct ssh_channels *sc = ssh->chanctxt;
-	u_int i, found;
+	u_int i, found = 0;
 	Channel *c;
 	int r;