diff --git a/archival/tar.c b/archival/tar.c
index 01997e464..6d8e633b0 100644
--- a/archival/tar.c
+++ b/archival/tar.c
@@ -154,9 +154,9 @@ extern int tar_main(int argc, char **argv)
 	int createFlag   = FALSE;
 	int verboseFlag  = FALSE;
 	int tostdoutFlag = FALSE;
-	int firstOpt = TRUE;
+	int status       = FALSE;
+	int firstOpt     = TRUE;
 	int stopIt;
-	int status;
 																		   
 
 	if (argc <= 1)
diff --git a/tar.c b/tar.c
index 01997e464..6d8e633b0 100644
--- a/tar.c
+++ b/tar.c
@@ -154,9 +154,9 @@ extern int tar_main(int argc, char **argv)
 	int createFlag   = FALSE;
 	int verboseFlag  = FALSE;
 	int tostdoutFlag = FALSE;
-	int firstOpt = TRUE;
+	int status       = FALSE;
+	int firstOpt     = TRUE;
 	int stopIt;
-	int status;
 																		   
 
 	if (argc <= 1)