diff --git a/ssl/handshake_server.c b/ssl/handshake_server.c
index 05d960e..6ebfce4 100644
--- a/ssl/handshake_server.c
+++ b/ssl/handshake_server.c
@@ -861,7 +861,7 @@
     }
   }
 
-  uint8_t alert;
+  uint8_t alert = SSL_AD_DECODE_ERROR;
   if (!negotiate_version(hs, &alert, &client_hello)) {
     ssl3_send_alert(ssl, SSL3_AL_FATAL, alert);
     return -1;