diff --git a/srogue/monsters.c b/srogue/monsters.c
index cd63f7b..1458274 100644
--- a/srogue/monsters.c
+++ b/srogue/monsters.c
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ char type;
  */
 wanderer()
 {
-	reg int ch;
+	reg int ch = '-';
 	reg struct room *rp, *hr = player.t_room;
 	reg struct linked_list *item;
 	reg struct thing *tp;