diff --git a/sw/source/ui/frmdlg/column.cxx b/sw/source/ui/frmdlg/column.cxx
index 427cca6a94a4..103c5f2c9e35 100644
--- a/sw/source/ui/frmdlg/column.cxx
+++ b/sw/source/ui/frmdlg/column.cxx
@@ -369,6 +369,7 @@ constexpr sal_uInt16 g_nMinWidth(MINLAY);
 SwColumnPage::SwColumnPage(weld::Container* pPage, weld::DialogController* pController, const SfxItemSet &rSet)
     : SfxTabPage(pPage, pController, u"modules/swriter/ui/columnpage.ui"_ustr, u"ColumnPage"_ustr, &rSet)
     , m_nFirstVis(0)
+    , m_nCols(0)
     , m_pModifiedField(nullptr)
     , m_bFormat(false)
     , m_bFrame(false)