diff --git a/libavcodec/h263.c b/libavcodec/h263.c
index a285901a6c..d3510559e2 100644
--- a/libavcodec/h263.c
+++ b/libavcodec/h263.c
@@ -4727,7 +4727,7 @@ static inline int mpeg4_decode_block(MpegEncContext * s, DCTELEM * block,
                               int n, int coded, int intra, int rvlc)
 {
     int level, i, last, run;
-    int dc_pred_dir= dc_pred_dir;
+    int dc_pred_dir= dc_pred_dir; //weird init to prevent uninitalized warning
     RLTable * rl;
     RL_VLC_ELEM * rl_vlc;
     const uint8_t * scan_table;