diff --git a/hw/xnest/Screen.c b/hw/xnest/Screen.c
index 7bf522a55..c38a538a3 100644
--- a/hw/xnest/Screen.c
+++ b/hw/xnest/Screen.c
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ xnestOpenScreen(ScreenPtr pScreen, int argc, char *argv[])
 {
     unsigned long valuemask;
     VisualID defaultVisual = 0;
-    int rootDepth;
+    int rootDepth = 0;
     miPointerScreenPtr PointPriv;
 
     if (!dixRegisterPrivateKey