--- a/liboctave/DET.h
+++ b/liboctave/DET.h
@@ -33,13 +33,15 @@
 {
 public:
 
-  base_det (T c = 1, int e = 0) 
+  base_det (T c = 1, int e = 0)
+    : c2 (), e2 ()
     { 
       c2 = xlog2 (c, e2); 
       e2 += e; 
     }
 
   base_det (T c, double e, double b) 
+    : c2 (), e2 ()
     { 
       e *= xlog2 (b);
       e2 = e;
@@ -49,7 +51,7 @@
       e2 += f;
     }
 
-  base_det (const base_det& a) : c2(a.c2), e2(a.e2) { }
+  base_det (const base_det& a) : c2 (a.c2), e2 (a.e2) { }
 
   base_det& operator = (const base_det& a)
     {