diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8032be5..bccf556 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -455,6 +455,7 @@ lines() {
     # 'read' exits with '1' when it sees EOL and
     # without the added test, the line isn't sent
     # to the loop.
+    lines=0
     while IFS= read -r line || [ -n "$line" ]; do
         lines=$((lines+1))
     done < "$1"