diff --git a/Python/assemble.c b/Python/assemble.c
index 6889831ae3fe0c..8789d8ef978c22 100644
--- a/Python/assemble.c
+++ b/Python/assemble.c
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ assemble_emit_exception_table_entry(struct assembler *a, int start, int end,
     assert(end > start);
     int target = handler->h_offset;
     int depth = handler->h_startdepth - 1;
-    if (handler->h_preserve_lasti) {
+    if (handler->h_preserve_lasti > 0) {
         depth -= 1;
     }
     assert(depth >= 0);
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ assemble_exception_table(struct assembler *a, instr_sequence *instrs)
     int ioffset = 0;
     _PyCompile_ExceptHandlerInfo handler;
     handler.h_offset = -1;
+    handler.h_preserve_lasti = -1;
     int start = -1;
     for (int i = 0; i < instrs->s_used; i++) {
         instruction *instr = &instrs->s_instrs[i];