diff --git a/src/obiview.c b/src/obiview.c
index 64071b5..91b0abd 100644
--- a/src/obiview.c
+++ b/src/obiview.c
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ OBIDMS_column_p clone_column_in_view(Obiview_p view, const char* column_name)
 {
 	int i;
 	OBIDMS_column_p current_line_selection = NULL;
-	OBIDMS_column_p column;
+	OBIDMS_column_p column = NULL;
 	OBIDMS_column_p column_buffer;
 
 	// Check that the view is not read-only