diff --git a/components/esm4/loadrace.hpp b/components/esm4/loadrace.hpp
index 9cd4d00891..125fefbd9f 100644
--- a/components/esm4/loadrace.hpp
+++ b/components/esm4/loadrace.hpp
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ namespace ESM4
         ESM::FormId mId; // from the header
         std::uint32_t mFlags; // from the header, see enum type RecordFlag for details
 
-        bool mIsTES5;
+        bool mIsTES5 = false;
 
         std::string mEditorId;
         std::string mFullName;