diff --git a/packages/real/real.c b/packages/real/real.c
index fd38bfce0..2ddb7f37f 100644
--- a/packages/real/real.c
+++ b/packages/real/real.c
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-
 #define CSTACK_DEFNS
 #include "rconfig.h"
 #if HAVE_R_H || !defined(_YAP_NOT_INSTALLED_)
@@ -480,7 +479,7 @@ static int term_to_S_el(term_t t, int objtype, size_t index, SEXP ans) {
   switch (objtype) {
   case PL_R_CHARS:
   case PL_R_PLUS: {
-    char *s;
+    char *s = NULL;
 
     if (PL_get_chars(t, &s, CVT_ATOM | CVT_STRING | CVT_LIST | BUF_DISCARDABLE |
                                 REP_UTF8)) {
@@ -782,7 +781,7 @@ static SEXP list_to_sexp(term_t t, int objtype) {
 
 static int slot_to_sexp(term_t t, SEXP *ansP) {
   term_t tslot = PL_new_term_ref();
-  char *s;
+  char *s = NULL;
   SEXP tmp_R, name_R;
   int nprotect = 0;
 
@@ -814,7 +813,7 @@ static int slot_to_sexp(term_t t, SEXP *ansP) {
 
 static int set_slot_to_sexp(term_t t, SEXP sexp) {
   term_t tslot = PL_new_term_ref();
-  char *s;
+  char *s = NULL;
   SEXP tmp_R, name_R;
   int nprotect = 0;
 
@@ -845,7 +844,7 @@ static int set_slot_to_sexp(term_t t, SEXP sexp) {
 
 static int listEl_to_sexp(term_t t, SEXP *ansP) {
   term_t tslot = PL_new_term_ref();
-  char *s;
+  char *s = NULL;
   SEXP tmp_R;
   int nprotect = 0;
 
@@ -876,7 +875,7 @@ static SEXP pl_to_func(term_t t, bool eval) {
   term_t a1 = PL_new_term_ref(), a;
   int i, ierror;
   SEXP c_R, call_R, res_R;
-  char *sf;
+  char *sf = NULL;
   int nprotect = 0;
 
   if (!PL_get_name_arity(t, &name, &arity)) {
@@ -2028,7 +2027,7 @@ static foreign_t send_c_vector(term_t tvec, term_t tout) {
 }
 
 static foreign_t rexpr_to_pl_term(term_t in, term_t out) {
-  char *s;
+  char *s = NULL;
 
   if (PL_get_chars(in, &s, CVT_ALL | BUF_MALLOC | REP_UTF8)) {
     SEXP sexp;
@@ -2050,7 +2049,7 @@ static foreign_t rexpr_to_pl_term(term_t in, term_t out) {
 }
 
 static foreign_t robj_to_pl_term(term_t name, term_t out) {
-  char *plname;
+  char *plname = NULL;
   int nprotect = 0;
 
   if (PL_get_chars(name, &plname, CVT_ALL | BUF_DISCARDABLE | REP_UTF8)) {
@@ -2141,7 +2140,7 @@ static foreign_t execute_R(term_t rvar, term_t value) {
 
 static foreign_t is_R_variable(term_t t) {
   SEXP name, o;
-  char *s;
+  char *s = NULL;
   int nprotect = 0;
 
   /* is this variable defined in R?.  */