diff --git a/src/regex/_regex.c b/src/regex/_regex.c
index 43f2135920..4418ccd817 100644
--- a/src/regex/_regex.c
+++ b/src/regex/_regex.c
@@ -13232,6 +13232,7 @@ Py_LOCAL_INLINE(BOOL) state_init_2(RE_State* state, PatternObject* pattern,
 
     state->groups = NULL;
     state->repeats = NULL;
+    state->req_pos = -1;
     state->visible_captures = visible_captures;
     state->match_all = match_all;
     state->backtrack_block.previous = NULL;