diff --git a/Modules/_tkinter.c b/Modules/_tkinter.c
index 4d81058deb8..e5d46242e11 100644
--- a/Modules/_tkinter.c
+++ b/Modules/_tkinter.c
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ static PyObject *valInCmd;
 static PyObject *trbInCmd;
 
 #ifdef TKINTER_PROTECT_LOADTK
-static int tk_load_failed;
+static int tk_load_failed = 0;
 #endif