diff --git a/libavfilter/vf_dedot.c b/libavfilter/vf_dedot.c
index 35862c5cd4..bb0f9e5ac8 100644
--- a/libavfilter/vf_dedot.c
+++ b/libavfilter/vf_dedot.c
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ static int activate(AVFilterContext *ctx)
     AVFrame *frame = NULL;
     int64_t pts;
     int status;
-    int ret;
+    int ret = 0;
 
     FF_FILTER_FORWARD_STATUS_BACK(outlink, inlink);