--- a/buffer.c
+++ b/buffer.c
@@ -679,7 +679,7 @@
 int
 fill_block()
 {
-	int bytes;
+	int bytes = 0;
 	char *start;
 	int toread;
 	static char eof_reached = 0;
@@ -738,7 +738,7 @@
 {
 	int filled = 0;
 	int maxfilled = (blocks * percent) / 100;
-	int first_block;
+	int first_block = 0;
 
 	if( debug )
 		fprintf( stderr, "\tW: Entering writer\n blocks = %d\n maxfilled = %d\n",
