diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/btf_dump.c b/tools/lib/bpf/btf_dump.c
index 05f3e7dfec0a..f06a1d343c92 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/btf_dump.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/btf_dump.c
@@ -2216,7 +2216,7 @@ static int btf_dump_dump_type_data(struct btf_dump *d,
 				   __u8 bits_offset,
 				   __u8 bit_sz)
 {
-	int size, err;
+	int size, err = 0;
 
 	size = btf_dump_type_data_check_overflow(d, t, id, data, bits_offset);
 	if (size < 0)