diff --git a/src/Airports/runwayprefs.cxx b/src/Airports/runwayprefs.cxx
index 12ab521e5..f0d203211 100644
--- a/src/Airports/runwayprefs.cxx
+++ b/src/Airports/runwayprefs.cxx
@@ -349,6 +349,10 @@ void RunwayGroup::setActive(const FGAirport * airport,
             return;
         }
     }
+
+    // failed to find any valid runways
+    active = -1;
+    nrActive = 0;
 }
 
 void RunwayGroup::getActive(int i, std::string & name, std::string & type)
diff --git a/src/Airports/runwayprefs.hxx b/src/Airports/runwayprefs.hxx
index ef426f654..8ce66ad8c 100644
--- a/src/Airports/runwayprefs.hxx
+++ b/src/Airports/runwayprefs.hxx
@@ -89,12 +89,12 @@ class RunwayGroup
 private:
   std::string name;
   RunwayListVec rwyList;
-  int active;
+  int active = -1;
   //stringVec runwayNames;
   int choice[2];
-  int nrActive;
+  int nrActive = 0;
 
-public:
+  public:
   RunwayGroup() {};
   RunwayGroup(const RunwayGroup &other);
   RunwayGroup &operator= (const RunwayGroup &other);