diff --git a/canutils/slcan/slcan.c b/canutils/slcan/slcan.c
index 2bf1ef133..e67a05de6 100644
--- a/canutils/slcan/slcan.c
+++ b/canutils/slcan/slcan.c
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
   int nbytes;
   int i;
   int ret;
-  int reccount;
+  int reccount = 0;
   struct sockaddr_can addr;
   struct canfd_frame frame;
   struct msghdr msg;