diff --git a/main/logger.c b/main/logger.c
index ba031e06f0..ca29d2ace2 100644
--- a/main/logger.c
+++ b/main/logger.c
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ struct logmsg {
 static AST_LIST_HEAD_STATIC(logmsgs, logmsg);
 static pthread_t logthread = AST_PTHREADT_NULL;
 static ast_cond_t logcond;
-static int close_logger_thread;
+static int close_logger_thread = 0;
 
 static FILE *eventlog;
 static FILE *qlog;