diff --git a/src/StreamEpics.cc b/src/StreamEpics.cc
index 6c2610b..e0a38d3 100644
--- a/src/StreamEpics.cc
+++ b/src/StreamEpics.cc
@@ -1121,7 +1121,7 @@ bool Stream::
 matchValue(const StreamFormat& format, const void* fieldaddress)
 {
     // this function must increase consumedInput
-    long consumed;
+    long consumed = 0;
     long lval;
     double dval;
     char* buffer;