diff --git a/json_pointer.c b/json_pointer.c
index 89e9e21..0ac8aaa 100644
--- a/json_pointer.c
+++ b/json_pointer.c
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ static int json_pointer_result_get_recursive(struct json_object *obj, char *path
                                              struct json_pointer_get_result *res)
 {
 	struct json_object *parent_obj = obj;
-	size_t idx;
+	size_t idx = 0;
 	char *endp;
 	int rc;