diff --git a/include/geometry/rtree.h b/include/geometry/rtree.h
index 7a2842f2ef..6d5a5561d7 100644
--- a/include/geometry/rtree.h
+++ b/include/geometry/rtree.h
@@ -1286,7 +1286,7 @@ int RTREE_QUAL::PickBranch( Rect* a_rect, Node* a_node )
     ELEMTYPEREAL    increase;
     ELEMTYPEREAL    bestIncr = (ELEMTYPEREAL) -1;
     ELEMTYPEREAL    area;
-    ELEMTYPEREAL    bestArea;
+    ELEMTYPEREAL    bestArea = 0;
     int             best = 0;
     Rect            tempRect;