diff --git a/infer/src/IR/Sil.re b/infer/src/IR/Sil.re
index 195df5a18..f2da0e9b9 100644
--- a/infer/src/IR/Sil.re
+++ b/infer/src/IR/Sil.re
@@ -663,15 +663,21 @@ let has_objc_ref_counter hpred =>
   | _ => false
   };
 
-let zero_value_of_numerical_type typ =>
+
+/** Returns the zero value of a type, for int, float and ptr types, None othwewise */
+let zero_value_of_numerical_type_option typ =>
   switch typ {
-  | Typ.Tint _ => Const (Cint IntLit.zero)
-  | Typ.Tfloat _ => Const (Cfloat 0.0)
-  | Typ.Tptr _ => Const (Cint IntLit.null)
-  | _ => assert false
+  | Typ.Tint _ => Some (Const (Cint IntLit.zero))
+  | Typ.Tfloat _ => Some (Const (Cfloat 0.0))
+  | Typ.Tptr _ => Some (Const (Cint IntLit.null))
+  | _ => None
   };
 
 
+/** Returns the zero value of a type, for int, float and ptr types, fail otherwise */
+let zero_value_of_numerical_type typ => Option.get (zero_value_of_numerical_type_option typ);
+
+
 /** Make a static local name in objc */
 let mk_static_local_name pname vname => pname ^ "_" ^ vname;
 
diff --git a/infer/src/IR/Sil.rei b/infer/src/IR/Sil.rei
index 71417e6f1..a9f9f52c3 100644
--- a/infer/src/IR/Sil.rei
+++ b/infer/src/IR/Sil.rei
@@ -460,6 +460,12 @@ let exp_is_this: exp => bool;
 
 let path_pos_equal: path_pos => path_pos => bool;
 
+
+/** Returns the zero value of a type, for int, float and ptr types, None othwewise */
+let zero_value_of_numerical_type_option: Typ.t => option exp;
+
+
+/** Returns the zero value of a type, for int, float and ptr types, fail otherwise */
 let zero_value_of_numerical_type: Typ.t => exp;
 
 
diff --git a/infer/src/clang/cTrans.ml b/infer/src/clang/cTrans.ml
index 5f2a9a111..76a65ad9e 100644
--- a/infer/src/clang/cTrans.ml
+++ b/infer/src/clang/cTrans.ml
@@ -1599,8 +1599,11 @@ struct
       initListExpr_initializers_trans trans_state var_exp 0 stmts typ false stmt_info in
     let rh_exps = collect_exprs res_trans_subexpr_list in
     if IList.length rh_exps == 0 then
-      let exp = Sil.zero_value_of_numerical_type var_type in
-      { empty_res_trans with root_nodes = trans_state.succ_nodes; exps = [(exp, typ)]; }
+      let exps =
+        match Sil.zero_value_of_numerical_type_option var_type with
+        | Some zero_exp -> [(zero_exp, typ)]
+        | None -> [] in
+      { empty_res_trans with root_nodes = trans_state.succ_nodes; exps = exps; }
     else
       (* For arrays, the size in the type may be an overapproximation of the number *)
       (* of literals the array is initialized with *)