diff --git a/plugins/check_ssh.c b/plugins/check_ssh.c
index 34ef37b7..3c1a594d 100644
--- a/plugins/check_ssh.c
+++ b/plugins/check_ssh.c
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ ssh_connect (char *haddr, int hport, char *remote_version, char *remote_protocol
 	char *ssh_server = NULL;
 	static char *rev_no = VERSION;
 	struct timeval tv;
-	double elapsed_time;
+	double elapsed_time = 0;
 
 	gettimeofday(&tv, NULL);