diff --git a/src/config/Config.h b/src/config/Config.h
index 17e289c..8345190 100644
--- a/src/config/Config.h
+++ b/src/config/Config.h
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 
 #define RATDECK_VERSION_MAJOR  1
 #define RATDECK_VERSION_MINOR  6
-#define RATDECK_VERSION_PATCH  2
-#define RATDECK_VERSION_STRING "1.6.2"
+#define RATDECK_VERSION_PATCH  3
+#define RATDECK_VERSION_STRING "1.6.3"
 
 // --- Feature Flags ---
 #define HAS_DISPLAY     true
diff --git a/src/reticulum/LXMFManager.h b/src/reticulum/LXMFManager.h
index 39e8d8e..2c59c95 100644
--- a/src/reticulum/LXMFManager.h
+++ b/src/reticulum/LXMFManager.h
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ private:
     std::deque<LXMFMessage> _outQueue;
 
     // Outbound link state (opportunistic-first, link upgrades in background)
-    RNS::Link _outLink;
+    RNS::Link _outLink{RNS::Type::NONE};
     RNS::Bytes _outLinkDestHash;
     bool _outLinkPending = false;