diff --git a/src/tz.cpp b/src/tz.cpp
index c3c7a52..aa9c144 100644
--- a/src/tz.cpp
+++ b/src/tz.cpp
@@ -2919,7 +2919,8 @@ get_version()
         in >> version;
         return version;
     }
-    return "unknown";
+    version = "unknown";
+    return version;
 }
 
 static