diff --git a/shell/main.cpp b/shell/main.cpp
index 711ef8e..f4c4c74 100644
--- a/shell/main.cpp
+++ b/shell/main.cpp
@@ -199,8 +199,8 @@ static std::string read_interactive(Session const &s, bool &leave)
 	return cmd;
 }
 
-int norc;
-std::string execute_arg;
+int norc = 0;
+std::string execute_arg = "";
 char* extra_rom = NULL;
 
 static void parse_options(int argc, char **argv) {
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ static void parse_options(int argc, char **argv) {
 		{0, 0, 0, 0}
 	};
 
-	bool show_help;
+	bool show_help = false;
 
 	int opt, option_index;
 	while (1) {