--- server/skills.c.orig	Thu Apr 16 04:07:47 1998
+++ server/skills.c	Thu May  7 21:03:01 1998
@@ -1057,7 +1057,7 @@
 
 int write_scroll (object *pl, object *scroll) {
     int success=0,confused=0,chosen_spell=-1,stat1=get_skill_stat1(pl);
-    object *newScroll;
+    object *newScroll = NULL;
 
     /* this is a sanity check */
     if (scroll->type!=SCROLL) {