diff --git a/ConflictSet.cpp b/ConflictSet.cpp
index c1e1f19..3f66d0f 100644
--- a/ConflictSet.cpp
+++ b/ConflictSet.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ enum class Type : int8_t {
 struct Node {
   /* begin section that's copied to the next node */
   Node *parent = nullptr;
-  int64_t maxVersion;
+  int64_t maxVersion = std::numeric_limits<int64_t>::lowest();
   Entry entry;
   int16_t numChildren = 0;
   bool entryPresent = false;