diff --git a/src/mesh/NodeDB.cpp b/src/mesh/NodeDB.cpp
index 376593fcd..33d8b51ef 100644
--- a/src/mesh/NodeDB.cpp
+++ b/src/mesh/NodeDB.cpp
@@ -1123,7 +1123,7 @@ meshtastic_NodeInfoLite *NodeDB::getOrCreateMeshNode(NodeNum n)
                      memGet.getFreeHeap());
             // look for oldest node and erase it
             uint32_t oldest = UINT32_MAX;
-            int oldestIndex = -1;
+            uint32_t oldestBoring = UINT32_MAX;
             int oldestIndex = -1;
             int oldestBoringIndex = -1;
             for (int i = 1; i < numMeshNodes; i++) {