--- function.c	Sun Jul  9 16:37:50 2000
+++ function.c.mine	Wed Oct 18 17:36:00 2000
@@ -1433,6 +1433,7 @@
 
       maxlen = 200;
       buffer = (char *) xmalloc (maxlen + 1);
+      buffer[0] = 0;
 
       /* Read from the pipe until it gets EOF.  */
       i = 0;