diff --git a/tests/runtests.pl b/tests/runtests.pl
index 227e66d8a..7d10ef4fc 100755
--- a/tests/runtests.pl
+++ b/tests/runtests.pl
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ sub torture {
 
         logmsg "*** Alloc number $limit is now set to fail ***\n" if($gdbthis);
 
-        my $ret;
+        my $ret = 0;
         if($gdbthis) {
             runclient($gdbline)
         }