diff a/install-info/install-info.c b/install-info/install-info.c
--- a/install-info/install-info.c
+++ b/install-info/install-info.c
@@ -1168,6 +1125,8 @@ parse_input (const struct line_data *lines, int nlines,
                   next->text_len = lines[i].start - start_of_this_entry;
                   next->entry_sections = head;
                   next->entry_sections_tail = tail;
+                  next->missing_name = 0;
+                  next->missing_description = 0;
                   next->missing_basename = 0;
                   next->next = *entries;
                   *entries = next;