diff --git a/src/osgUtil/Simplifier.cpp b/src/osgUtil/Simplifier.cpp
index 733079c1a..d594b77c0 100644
--- a/src/osgUtil/Simplifier.cpp
+++ b/src/osgUtil/Simplifier.cpp
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ public:
 
 
     EdgeCollapse():
-       _computeErrorMetricUsingLength(false)  {}
+        _geometry(0),
+        _computeErrorMetricUsingLength(false)  {}
         
     ~EdgeCollapse();