diff --git a/gtk/gtktextview.c b/gtk/gtktextview.c
index 1fd382e972..baad3043c4 100644
--- a/gtk/gtktextview.c
+++ b/gtk/gtktextview.c
@@ -1637,6 +1637,7 @@ gtk_text_view_init (GtkTextView *text_view)
   priv->indent = 0;
   priv->tabs = NULL;
   priv->editable = TRUE;
+  priv->cursor_alpha = 1.0;
 
   priv->scroll_after_paste = FALSE;