diff --git a/top/top.c b/top/top.c
index 9bf8e54e..56b3d490 100644
--- a/top/top.c
+++ b/top/top.c
@@ -5196,7 +5196,7 @@ static const char *task_show (const WIN_t *q, struct pids_stack *p) {
    if (Rc.mode_altscr) rp = scat(rp, " ");
 
    for (x = 0; x < q->maxpflgs; x++) {
-      const char *cp;
+      const char *cp = NULL;
       FLG_t       i = q->procflgs[x];
       #define S   Fieldstab[i].scale        // these used to be variables
       #define W   Fieldstab[i].width        // but it's much better if we