diff --git a/openair1/PHY/LTE_TRANSPORT/dlsch_modulation.c b/openair1/PHY/LTE_TRANSPORT/dlsch_modulation.c
index f05e4570a6b5b6f3ef95310f2cf9cde9ed7c5454..2f10a2fdc8494e742dc731e9a5d05b5a1c0effaa 100644
--- a/openair1/PHY/LTE_TRANSPORT/dlsch_modulation.c
+++ b/openair1/PHY/LTE_TRANSPORT/dlsch_modulation.c
@@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ int allocate_REs_in_RB(PHY_VARS_eNB* phy_vars_eNB,
 {
 
   uint8_t *x0 = NULL;
-  MIMO_mode_t mimo_mode;
+  MIMO_mode_t mimo_mode = -1;
 
   LTE_DL_FRAME_PARMS *frame_parms = &phy_vars_eNB->frame_parms;