diff --git a/base/verilog.c b/base/verilog.c
index 317e28e..4a1c469 100644
--- a/base/verilog.c
+++ b/base/verilog.c
@@ -1738,7 +1738,7 @@ nextinst:
 	       // Net is bit-sliced across array of instances.
 
 	       if (wb.start > wb.end) {
-		  char *bptr, *cptr, cchar, *netname;
+		  char *bptr, *cptr = NULL, cchar, *netname;
 		  unsigned char is_bundle = 0;
 		  struct bus wbb;