diff --git a/apps/app_externalivr.c b/apps/app_externalivr.c
index 919815d730..b0b2254d48 100644
--- a/apps/app_externalivr.c
+++ b/apps/app_externalivr.c
@@ -401,6 +401,7 @@ static int app_exec(struct ast_channel *chan, const char *data)
 		.playlist = AST_LIST_HEAD_INIT_VALUE,
 		.finishlist = AST_LIST_HEAD_INIT_VALUE,
 		.gen_active = 0,
+		.playing_silence = 1,
 	};
 	struct ivr_localuser *u = &foo;