diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_furnaces/init.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_furnaces/init.lua
index cd2b6b41e..97e0e3e8a 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_furnaces/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_furnaces/init.lua
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ local function furnace_node_timer(pos, elapsed)
 	local srclist, fuellist
 
 	local cookable, cooked
-	local active
+	local active = true
 	local fuel
 
 	srclist = inv:get_list("src")