diff --git a/Stream_support/include/CGAL/IO/OFF/File_scanner_OFF.h b/Stream_support/include/CGAL/IO/OFF/File_scanner_OFF.h
index e920218a2b0..278e2037303 100644
--- a/Stream_support/include/CGAL/IO/OFF/File_scanner_OFF.h
+++ b/Stream_support/include/CGAL/IO/OFF/File_scanner_OFF.h
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ public:
     //split it into strings
     std::istringstream iss(col);
     //holds the rgb values
-    unsigned char rgb[3];
+    unsigned char rgb[3]{};
     int index =0;
     //split the string into numbers
     while(iss>>color_info){