I believe the following means that the compiler has determined that the two named variables DO NOT actually get initialized to NULL as written. However, it looks like their initialization is not required, as each is set before it is read.
CC btl_usnic_component.lo /scratch/scratchdirs/hargrove/OMPI/openmpi-1.7-latest-linux-x86_64-icc-13/openmpi-1.7.4rc2r30168/ompi/mca/btl/usnic/btl_usnic_component.c(1391): warning #589: transfer of control bypasses initialization of: variable "ssfrag" (declared at line 1392) variable "lsfrag" (declared at line 1393) switch (frag->uf_type) { ^ -Paul -- Paul H. Hargrove phhargr...@lbl.gov Future Technologies Group Computer and Data Sciences Department Tel: +1-510-495-2352 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Fax: +1-510-486-6900