--- a/src/linked_list.c	Tue Oct 29 16:08:37 2024 +0100
+++ b/src/linked_list.c	Tue Oct 29 16:47:19 2024 +0100
@@ -840,7 +840,7 @@
         left = j;
         right = i;
     }
-    cx_linked_list_node *nleft, *nright;
+    cx_linked_list_node *nleft = NULL, *nright = NULL;
     if (left < mid && right < mid) {
         // case 1: both items left from mid
         nleft = cx_ll_node_at(ll, left);