diff --git a/bitnami/kafka/3.5/debian-11/rootfs/opt/bitnami/scripts/libkafka.sh b/bitnami/kafka/3.5/debian-11/rootfs/opt/bitnami/scripts/libkafka.sh
index 50fafe743a55d..d4e58297c4628 100644
--- a/bitnami/kafka/3.5/debian-11/rootfs/opt/bitnami/scripts/libkafka.sh
+++ b/bitnami/kafka/3.5/debian-11/rootfs/opt/bitnami/scripts/libkafka.sh
@@ -850,7 +850,7 @@ kafka_initialize() {
         fi
     done
 
-    local generate_kraft_scram
+    local generate_kraft_scram=0
 
     # DEPRECATED. Check for server.properties file in old conf directory to maintain compatibility with Helm chart.
     if [[ ! -f "$KAFKA_BASE_DIR"/conf/server.properties ]] && [[ ! -f "$KAFKA_MOUNTED_CONF_DIR"/server.properties ]]; then