diff --git a/complex.c b/complex.c
index c550c2a57b..28d5b2058b 100644
--- a/complex.c
+++ b/complex.c
@@ -1065,6 +1065,8 @@ complex_pow_for_special_angle(VALUE self, VALUE other)
     else if (f_eqeq_p(dat->real, f_negate(dat->imag))) {
         x = dat->imag;
         dir = 3;
+    } else {
+        dir = 0;
     }
 
     if (UNDEF_P(x)) return x;