diff --git a/wolfcrypt/src/pkcs7.c b/wolfcrypt/src/pkcs7.c
index 9142d7eb1..54c2eae18 100644
--- a/wolfcrypt/src/pkcs7.c
+++ b/wolfcrypt/src/pkcs7.c
@@ -10057,7 +10057,7 @@ WOLFSSL_API int wc_PKCS7_DecodeEnvelopedData(PKCS7* pkcs7, byte* in,
     int encryptedContentSz = 0;
     byte padLen;
     byte* encryptedContent = NULL;
-    int explicitOctet;
+    int explicitOctet = 0;
     word32 localIdx;
     byte   tag;