diff --git a/test_coverage.sh b/test_coverage.sh
index afabe41a..3e788e26 100755
--- a/test_coverage.sh
+++ b/test_coverage.sh
@@ -304,6 +304,7 @@ r -h fe070400
 w -h fe070400
 nocommand
 EOF
+status=1
 while [ ! "$status" = 0 ]; do
   sleep 5
   echo `date` "check signal"