diff --git a/numpy/core/src/common/simd/neon/memory.h b/numpy/core/src/common/simd/neon/memory.h
index 2202013f982c..e7503b822e03 100644
--- a/numpy/core/src/common/simd/neon/memory.h
+++ b/numpy/core/src/common/simd/neon/memory.h
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ NPYV_IMPL_NEON_MEM(f64, double)
  ***************************/
 NPY_FINLINE npyv_s32 npyv_loadn_s32(const npy_int32 *ptr, npy_intp stride)
 {
-    int32x4_t a;
+    int32x4_t a = vdupq_n_s32(0);
     a = vld1q_lane_s32((const int32_t*)ptr,            a, 0);
     a = vld1q_lane_s32((const int32_t*)ptr + stride,   a, 1);
     a = vld1q_lane_s32((const int32_t*)ptr + stride*2, a, 2);