diff --git a/nifti2/nifti2_io.c b/nifti2/nifti2_io.c
index c8cc6b23..acdbc089 100644
--- a/nifti2/nifti2_io.c
+++ b/nifti2/nifti2_io.c
@@ -2778,7 +2778,7 @@ void nifti_dmat44_to_orientation( nifti_dmat44 R ,
      case -2: i = NIFTI_A2P ; break ;
      case  3: i = NIFTI_I2S ; break ;
      case -3: i = NIFTI_S2I ; break ;
-     default: assert(0) ; break ;
+     default: assert(0) ; i = 0 ; break ;
    }
 
    switch( jbest*qbest ){
@@ -2788,7 +2788,7 @@ void nifti_dmat44_to_orientation( nifti_dmat44 R ,
      case -2: j = NIFTI_A2P ; break ;
      case  3: j = NIFTI_I2S ; break ;
      case -3: j = NIFTI_S2I ; break ;
-     default: assert(0) ; break ;
+     default: assert(0) ; j = 0 ; break ;
    }
 
    switch( kbest*rbest ){
@@ -2798,7 +2798,7 @@ void nifti_dmat44_to_orientation( nifti_dmat44 R ,
      case -2: k = NIFTI_A2P ; break ;
      case  3: k = NIFTI_I2S ; break ;
      case -3: k = NIFTI_S2I ; break ;
-     default: assert(0) ; break ;
+     default: assert(0) ; k = 0 ; break ;
    }
 
    *icod = i ; *jcod = j ; *kcod = k ; }
@@ -2961,7 +2961,7 @@ void nifti_mat44_to_orientation( mat44 R , int *icod, int *jcod, int *kcod )
      case -2: i = NIFTI_A2P ; break ;
      case  3: i = NIFTI_I2S ; break ;
      case -3: i = NIFTI_S2I ; break ;
-     default: break;
+     default: i = 0 ; break;
    }
 
    switch( jbest*qbest ){
@@ -2971,7 +2971,7 @@ void nifti_mat44_to_orientation( mat44 R , int *icod, int *jcod, int *kcod )
      case -2: j = NIFTI_A2P ; break ;
      case  3: j = NIFTI_I2S ; break ;
      case -3: j = NIFTI_S2I ; break ;
-     default: break;
+     default: j = 0 ; break;
    }
 
    switch( kbest*rbest ){
@@ -2981,7 +2981,7 @@ void nifti_mat44_to_orientation( mat44 R , int *icod, int *jcod, int *kcod )
      case -2: k = NIFTI_A2P ; break ;
      case  3: k = NIFTI_I2S ; break ;
      case -3: k = NIFTI_S2I ; break ;
-     default: break;
+     default: k = 0 ; break;
    }
 
    *icod = i ; *jcod = j ; *kcod = k ; }
diff --git a/niftilib/nifti1_io.c b/niftilib/nifti1_io.c
index eb8887f3..ad2552bd 100644
--- a/niftilib/nifti1_io.c
+++ b/niftilib/nifti1_io.c
@@ -2109,7 +2109,7 @@ void nifti_mat44_to_orientation( mat44 R , int *icod, int *jcod, int *kcod )
      case -2: i = NIFTI_A2P ; break ;
      case  3: i = NIFTI_I2S ; break ;
      case -3: i = NIFTI_S2I ; break ;
-     default: assert(0) ; break ;
+     default: assert(0) ; i = 0 ; break ;
    }
 
    switch( jbest*qbest ){
@@ -2119,7 +2119,7 @@ void nifti_mat44_to_orientation( mat44 R , int *icod, int *jcod, int *kcod )
      case -2: j = NIFTI_A2P ; break ;
      case  3: j = NIFTI_I2S ; break ;
      case -3: j = NIFTI_S2I ; break ;
-     default: assert(0) ; break ;
+     default: assert(0) ; j = 0 ; break ;
    }
 
    switch( kbest*rbest ){
@@ -2129,7 +2129,7 @@ void nifti_mat44_to_orientation( mat44 R , int *icod, int *jcod, int *kcod )
      case -2: k = NIFTI_A2P ; break ;
      case  3: k = NIFTI_I2S ; break ;
      case -3: k = NIFTI_S2I ; break ;
-     default: assert(0) ; break ;
+     default: assert(0) ; k = 0 ; break ;
    }
 
    *icod = i ; *jcod = j ; *kcod = k ;