diff --git a/code/STEPFileReader.cpp b/code/STEPFileReader.cpp
index 3b415ddb9..424653193 100644
--- a/code/STEPFileReader.cpp
+++ b/code/STEPFileReader.cpp
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ STEP::DB* STEP::ReadFileHeader(boost::shared_ptr<IOStream> stream)
                 if (list->GetSize() > 1)    {
                     DefaultLogger::get()->warn(AddLineNumber("multiple schemas currently not supported",line));
                 }
-                const EXPRESS::STRING* string;
+                const EXPRESS::STRING* string( nullptr );
                 if (!list->GetSize() || !(string=dynamic_cast<const EXPRESS::STRING*>( (*list)[0].get() ))) {
                     throw STEP::SyntaxError("expected FILE_SCHEMA to contain a single string literal",line);
                 }