diff --git a/src/backend/file/gnc-account-xml-v2.c b/src/backend/file/gnc-account-xml-v2.c
index 3f0ac38de8..4b10ac1874 100644
--- a/src/backend/file/gnc-account-xml-v2.c
+++ b/src/backend/file/gnc-account-xml-v2.c
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ static gboolean
 account_type_handler (xmlNodePtr node, gpointer act_pdata)
 {
     struct account_pdata *pdata = act_pdata;
-    int type;
+    GNCAccountType type = ACCT_TYPE_INVALID;
     char *string;
 
     string = (char*) xmlNodeGetContent (node->xmlChildrenNode);