diff --git a/wolfcrypt/benchmark/benchmark.c b/wolfcrypt/benchmark/benchmark.c
index 9a53b743f..33bf49fc5 100644
--- a/wolfcrypt/benchmark/benchmark.c
+++ b/wolfcrypt/benchmark/benchmark.c
@@ -1658,7 +1658,7 @@ void bench_chacha(void)
 void bench_chacha20_poly1305_aead(void)
 {
     double start;
-    int    ret, i, count;
+    int    ret = 0, i, count;
 
     byte authTag[CHACHA20_POLY1305_AEAD_AUTHTAG_SIZE];
     XMEMSET(authTag, 0, sizeof(authTag));