diff --git a/src/buffer.cc b/src/buffer.cc
index a73f8fd3..ac11553f 100644
--- a/src/buffer.cc
+++ b/src/buffer.cc
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ struct Buffer::Modification
 
     Modification inverse() const
     {
-        Type inverse_type;
+        Type inverse_type = Insert;
         switch (type)
         {
         case Insert: inverse_type = Erase;  break;