diff --git a/include/yaml-cpp/node/impl.h b/include/yaml-cpp/node/impl.h
index 312281f18..150a6cfc6 100644
--- a/include/yaml-cpp/node/impl.h
+++ b/include/yaml-cpp/node/impl.h
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ struct as_if {
     if (!node.m_pNode)
       return fallback;
 
-    T t;
+    T t = fallback;
     if (convert<T>::decode(node, t))
       return t;
     return fallback;