diff --git a/src/r_things.c b/src/r_things.c
index 0d85a4631..55866759d 100644
--- a/src/r_things.c
+++ b/src/r_things.c
@@ -1107,7 +1107,7 @@ static void R_ProjectSprite(mobj_t *thing)
 
 	vissprite_t *vis;
 
-	angle_t ang;
+	angle_t ang = 0; // gcc 4.6 and lower fix
 	fixed_t iscale;
 	fixed_t scalestep; // toast '16
 	fixed_t offset, offset2;