diff --git a/src/mapgen/mapgen_fractal.cpp b/src/mapgen/mapgen_fractal.cpp
index 933958587..091dbacfa 100644
--- a/src/mapgen/mapgen_fractal.cpp
+++ b/src/mapgen/mapgen_fractal.cpp
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ s16 MapgenFractal::generateTerrain()
 				if (vm->m_data[vi].getContent() != CONTENT_IGNORE)
 					continue;
 
-				s16 seabed_height;
+				s16 seabed_height = -MAX_MAP_GENERATION_LIMIT;
 				if (noise_seabed)
 					seabed_height = noise_seabed->result[index2d];