--- WINGs/wtext.c
+++ WINGs/wtext.c
@@ -656,7 +656,7 @@
     TextBlock *tb;
     WMFont *font;
     char *text;
-    int len, y, c, s, done=False, prev_y=-23, dir /* 1 = down */;
+    int len, y, c, s, done=False, prev_y=-23, dir=1 /* 1 = down */;
     WMScreen *scr = tPtr->view->screen;
     Display *dpy = tPtr->view->screen->display;
     Window win = tPtr->view->window;