diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/modifier.c b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/modifier.c
index db0c649d290..7439a47a746 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/modifier.c
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/modifier.c
@@ -247,6 +247,11 @@ int modifiers_getCageIndex(struct Scene *scene, Object *ob, int *lastPossibleCag
 	ModifierData *md = (virtual_)? modifiers_getVirtualModifierList(ob): ob->modifiers.first;
 	int i, cageIndex = -1;
 
+	if(lastPossibleCageIndex_r) {
+		/* ensure the value is initialized */
+		*lastPossibleCageIndex_r= -1;
+	}
+
 	/* Find the last modifier acting on the cage. */
 	for (i=0; md; i++,md=md->next) {
 		ModifierTypeInfo *mti = modifierType_getInfo(md->type);