diff --git a/gitk b/gitk
index 651b7400436..68cd1a1fc51 100755
--- a/gitk
+++ b/gitk
@@ -11012,6 +11012,7 @@ proc doprefs {} {
     lappend pages [prefspage_general $notebook] [mc "General"]
     lappend pages [prefspage_colors $notebook] [mc "Colors"]
     lappend pages [prefspage_fonts $notebook] [mc "Fonts"]
+    set col 0
     foreach {page title} $pages {
 	if {$use_notebook} {
 	    $notebook add $page -text $title