diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/ucol.cpp b/icu4c/source/i18n/ucol.cpp
index 5de75de8604..e6e785b5137 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/ucol.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/ucol.cpp
@@ -4828,7 +4828,7 @@ ucol_calcSortKey(const    UCollator    *coll,
         } else {
           prevBuffSize = minBufferSize;
 
-          uint32_t frenchStartOffset, frenchEndOffset;
+          uint32_t frenchStartOffset = 0, frenchEndOffset = 0;
           if (frenchStartPtr != NULL) {
              frenchStartOffset = frenchStartPtr - secStart;
              frenchEndOffset = frenchEndPtr - secStart;