diff --git a/src/lib/util/chd.c b/src/lib/util/chd.c
index 61fc8641ef4..eda906740f5 100644
--- a/src/lib/util/chd.c
+++ b/src/lib/util/chd.c
@@ -295,7 +295,8 @@ inline UINT8 chd_file::bits_for_value(UINT64 value)
 //-------------------------------------------------
 
 chd_file::chd_file()
-	: m_file(NULL)
+	: m_file(NULL),
+      m_owns_file(false)
 {
 	// reset state
 	memset(m_decompressor, 0, sizeof(m_decompressor));