diff --git a/assembler/src/main.c b/assembler/src/main.c
index 48d0a10c..30c90187 100644
--- a/assembler/src/main.c
+++ b/assembler/src/main.c
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ char *export_filename = NULL;
 const char const *binary_prepend = "static const char gen_eu_bytes[] = {\n";
 
 struct brw_program compiled_program;
-struct program_defaults program_defaults;
+struct program_defaults program_defaults = {.register_type = BRW_REGISTER_TYPE_F};
 
 
 #define HASHSZ 	37
@@ -271,8 +271,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		}
 	}
 
-	program_defaults.register_type = BRW_REGISTER_TYPE_F;
-
 	err = yyparse();
 
 	if (strcmp(argv[0], "-"))