diff --git a/tests/test1707.pl b/tests/test1707.pl
index 8ead104f22..3334fc56ef 100755
--- a/tests/test1707.pl
+++ b/tests/test1707.pl
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ while(<R>) {
 }
 close(R);
 
-my $error;
+my $error = 0;
 if(scalar(@curlout) != scalar(@txtout)) {
     printf "curl -h $opt is %d lines, $txt says %d lines\n",
         scalar(@curlout), scalar(@txtout);