diff --git a/examples/img2avi.c b/examples/img2avi.c
index 7a5ca96..d0ee057 100644
--- a/examples/img2avi.c
+++ b/examples/img2avi.c
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
   int first;
   int width;
   int height;
-  s_movie * movie;
+  s_movie * movie = NULL;
   s_params * params;
   s_image *image;
   char formatbuf[20];
diff --git a/mpeg2enc/putvlc.c b/mpeg2enc/putvlc.c
index 6a84fbd..b373fea 100644
--- a/mpeg2enc/putvlc.c
+++ b/mpeg2enc/putvlc.c
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ void
 simpeg_encode_putAC(simpeg_encode_context * context,int run, int signed_level, int vlcformat)
 {
   int level, len;
-  VLCtable *ptab;
+  VLCtable *ptab = NULL;
 
   level = (signed_level<0) ? -signed_level : signed_level; /* abs(signed_level) */