diff --git a/servers/slapd/entry.c b/servers/slapd/entry.c
index 8fb1680c00..ab8bbb013f 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/entry.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/entry.c
@@ -33,12 +33,13 @@ Entry *
 str2entry( char *s )
 {
 	Entry		*e;
-	Attribute	**a;
+	Attribute	**a = NULL;
 	char		*type;
 	char		*value;
 	char		*next;
 	ber_len_t	vlen;
-	int		nvals, maxvals;
+	int		nvals = 0;
+	int		maxvals = 0;
 	struct berval	bval;
 	struct berval	*vals[2];
 	char		ptype[64];