diff --git a/lib/src/clixon_xml_sort.c b/lib/src/clixon_xml_sort.c
index 2fe51b2d..6fb5698f 100644
--- a/lib/src/clixon_xml_sort.c
+++ b/lib/src/clixon_xml_sort.c
@@ -216,8 +216,8 @@ xml_cmp(const void* arg1,
     char       *keyname;
     cg_var     *cv1; 
     cg_var     *cv2;
-    int         nr1;
-    int         nr2;
+    int         nr1=0;
+    int         nr2=0;
     cxobj      *x1b;
     cxobj      *x2b;
     int         e;