diff --git a/src/libmsc/smpp_openbsc.c b/src/libmsc/smpp_openbsc.c
index c2f2f3b..ec14898 100644
--- a/src/libmsc/smpp_openbsc.c
+++ b/src/libmsc/smpp_openbsc.c
@@ -94,11 +94,11 @@
 			 const struct submit_sm_t *submit)
 {
 	const uint8_t *sms_msg = NULL;
+	unsigned int sms_msg_len = 0;
 	struct vlr_subscr *dest;
 	uint16_t msg_ref = 0;
 	struct gsm_sms *sms;
 	struct tlv_t *t;
-	unsigned int sms_msg_len;
 	int mode;
 
 	dest = subscr_by_dst(net, submit->dest_addr_npi,