diff --git a/src/Counters.cpp b/src/Counters.cpp
index c4ec31b017..d0bb56faf6 100644
--- a/src/Counters.cpp
+++ b/src/Counters.cpp
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ Counter::StringMap & Counter::flatLabelStrings(bool in_appendix) const
 Counters::Counters() : appendix_(false), subfloat_(false)
 {
 	layout_stack_.push_back(0);
-	counter_stack_.push_back(0);
+	counter_stack_.push_back(from_ascii(""));
 }