diff --git a/engines/sludge/event.cpp b/engines/sludge/event.cpp
index d6afe2f5b92..acccd7ff84a 100644
--- a/engines/sludge/event.cpp
+++ b/engines/sludge/event.cpp
@@ -182,7 +182,6 @@ bool EventManager::handleInput() {
 		if (!checkNew(tempStack))
 			return false;
 
-		initVarNew(tempStack->thisVar);
 		ScreenRegion *overRegion = _vm->_regionMan->getOverRegion();
 		if (overRegion) {
 			setVariable(tempStack->thisVar, SVT_OBJTYPE, overRegion->thisType->objectNum);
@@ -321,7 +320,6 @@ bool EventManager::handleInput() {
 			VariableStack *tempStack = new VariableStack;
 			if (!checkNew(tempStack))
 				return false;
-			initVarNew(tempStack->thisVar);
 			makeTextVar(tempStack->thisVar, tempString);
 			tempStack->next = nullptr;
 			if (!startNewFunctionNum(_currentEvents->func[kSpace], 1, nullptr, tempStack))
diff --git a/engines/sludge/function.cpp b/engines/sludge/function.cpp
index 8aa69f07c4c..98f7bf79b19 100644
--- a/engines/sludge/function.cpp
+++ b/engines/sludge/function.cpp
@@ -661,9 +661,6 @@ bool loadFunctionCode(LoadedFunction *newFunc) {
 	newFunc->localVars = new Variable[newFunc->numLocals];
 	if (!checkNew(newFunc->localVars))
 		return false;
-	for (int a = 0; a < newFunc->numLocals; a++) {
-		initVarNew(newFunc->localVars[a]);
-	}
 
 	return true;
 }
@@ -700,7 +697,6 @@ int startNewFunctionNum(uint funcNum, uint numParamsExpected,
 	newFunc->freezerLevel = 0;
 	newFunc->runThisLine = 0;
 	newFunc->isSpeech = 0;
-	initVarNew(newFunc->reg);
 
 	restartFunction(newFunc);
 	return 1;
diff --git a/engines/sludge/sludger.cpp b/engines/sludge/sludger.cpp
index f297ff12f59..f9dedf22fc1 100644
--- a/engines/sludge/sludger.cpp
+++ b/engines/sludge/sludger.cpp
@@ -177,7 +177,6 @@ void killSludge() {
 bool initSludge(const Common::String &filename) {
 	initSludge();
 
-	int a = 0;
 	Common::File *fp = openAndVerify(filename, 'G', 'E', ERROR_BAD_HEADER, gameVersion);
 	if (!fp)
 		return false;
@@ -276,8 +275,6 @@ bool initSludge(const Common::String &filename) {
 	globalVars = new Variable[numGlobals];
 	if (!checkNew(globalVars))
 		return false;
-	for (a = 0; a < numGlobals; a++)
-		initVarNew(globalVars[a]);
 
 	// Get language selected by user
 	g_sludge->_resMan->setData(fp);
diff --git a/engines/sludge/variable.cpp b/engines/sludge/variable.cpp
index 8ed2297008a..a663599d5ae 100644
--- a/engines/sludge/variable.cpp
+++ b/engines/sludge/variable.cpp
@@ -408,9 +408,6 @@ bool makeFastArraySize(Variable &to, int size) {
 	to.varData.fastArray->fastVariables = new Variable[size];
 	if (!checkNew(to.varData.fastArray->fastVariables))
 		return false;
-	for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
-		initVarNew(to.varData.fastArray->fastVariables[i]);
-	}
 	to.varData.fastArray->size = size;
 	to.varData.fastArray->timesUsed = 1;
 	return true;
diff --git a/engines/sludge/variable.h b/engines/sludge/variable.h
index a3cc57d9111..27bf71a6896 100644
--- a/engines/sludge/variable.h
+++ b/engines/sludge/variable.h
@@ -68,6 +68,11 @@ union VariableData {
 struct Variable {
 	VariableType varType;
 	VariableData varData;
+
+	Variable() {
+		varType = SVT_NULL;
+		varData.intValue = 0;
+	}
 };
 
 struct VariableStack {
@@ -75,10 +80,6 @@ struct VariableStack {
 	VariableStack *next;
 };
 
-// Initialisation
-
-#define initVarNew(thisVar)     thisVar.varType = SVT_NULL
-
 // Setting variables
 
 void setVariable(Variable &thisVar, VariableType vT, int value);
@@ -94,7 +95,6 @@ char *createCString(const Common::String &s);
 // Misc.
 
 void unlinkVar(Variable &thisVar);
-Common::String getNumberedString(int value);
 Common::String getTextFromAnyVar(const Variable &from);
 struct Persona *getCostumeFromVar(Variable &thisVar);
 struct PersonaAnimation  *getAnimationFromVar(Variable &thisVar);