diff --git a/action.c b/action.c
index 7fdd63665..6d0b7d351 100644
--- a/action.c
+++ b/action.c
@@ -349,6 +349,7 @@ rsRetVal actionConstruct(action_t **ppThis)
 	pThis->bReportSuspension = -1; /* indicate "not yet set" */
 	pThis->bReportSuspensionCont = -1; /* indicate "not yet set" */
 	pThis->bJustResumed = 0;
+	pThis->eParamPassing = ACT_STRING_PASSING;
 	pThis->tLastOccur = datetime.GetTime(NULL);	/* done once per action on startup only */
 	pthread_mutex_init(&pThis->mutActExec, NULL);
 	pthread_mutex_init(&pThis->mutAction, NULL);