diff --git a/ui/curses.c b/ui/curses.c
index 12bc682cf9..e4f9588c3e 100644
--- a/ui/curses.c
+++ b/ui/curses.c
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ static int curses2foo(const int _curses2foo[], const int _curseskey2foo[],
 static void curses_refresh(DisplayChangeListener *dcl)
 {
     int chr, keysym, keycode, keycode_alt;
-    enum maybe_keycode maybe_keycode;
+    enum maybe_keycode maybe_keycode = CURSES_KEYCODE;
 
     curses_winch_check();
 
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ static void curses_refresh(DisplayChangeListener *dcl)
 
         /* alt or esc key */
         if (keycode == 1) {
-            enum maybe_keycode next_maybe_keycode;
+            enum maybe_keycode next_maybe_keycode = CURSES_KEYCODE;
             int nextchr = console_getch(&next_maybe_keycode);
 
             if (nextchr != -1) {