diff --git a/Python/marshal.c b/Python/marshal.c
index b61436b..585c1eb 100644
--- a/Python/marshal.c
+++ b/Python/marshal.c
@@ -887,7 +887,8 @@
 	RFILE rf;
 	assert(fp);
 	rf.fp = fp;
-	rf.strings = rf.end = rf.ptr = NULL;
+	rf.strings = NULL;
+	rf.end = rf.ptr = NULL;
 	return r_short(&rf);
 }