diff --git a/src/engine/ConfigParsing/EffectsParser.java b/src/engine/ConfigParsing/EffectsParser.java
index eb2b4dd6..86a75af5 100644
--- a/src/engine/ConfigParsing/EffectsParser.java
+++ b/src/engine/ConfigParsing/EffectsParser.java
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ public class EffectsParser {
 
         // Parse effect entry description
 
-        String firstLine;
+        String firstLine = "";
 
         try {
             firstLine = effectData.substring(0, effectData.indexOf('\n'));