diff --git a/arch/x86/loader/uart.c b/arch/x86/loader/uart.c
index 5d0599843..2437fd2ff 100644
--- a/arch/x86/loader/uart.c
+++ b/arch/x86/loader/uart.c
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ size_t	uartport = 0;
 
 static inline unsigned char read_from_uart(uint32_t off)
 {
-	uint8_t c;
+	uint8_t c = 0;
 
 	if (uartport)
 		c = inportb(uartport + off);