diff --git a/Point_set_3/include/CGAL/Point_set_3/IO.h b/Point_set_3/include/CGAL/Point_set_3/IO.h
index 93117799195..f2d14227ec9 100644
--- a/Point_set_3/include/CGAL/Point_set_3/IO.h
+++ b/Point_set_3/include/CGAL/Point_set_3/IO.h
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ private:
     
     virtual void assign (PLY_reader& reader, typename Point_set::Index index)
     {
-      Type t;
+      Type t{};
       reader.assign (t, m_name.c_str());
       put(m_pmap, index, t);
     }