diff --git a/Tactical/Interface.cpp b/Tactical/Interface.cpp
index b063cda4..eba801c4 100644
--- a/Tactical/Interface.cpp
+++ b/Tactical/Interface.cpp
@@ -1863,7 +1863,10 @@ void BeginOverlayMessage( UINT32 uiFont, STR16 pFontString, ... )
 
 	if ( giPopupSlideMessageOverlay == -1  )
 	{
-		// Set Overlay
+		// WDS - bug fix: VideoOverlayDesc must be initialized! - 07/16/2007
+		memset( &VideoOverlayDesc, 0, sizeof( VIDEO_OVERLAY_DESC ) );
+
+	    // Set Overlay
 		VideoOverlayDesc.sLeft			 = ( SCREEN_WIDTH - gusOverlayPopupBoxWidth ) / 2;
 		VideoOverlayDesc.sTop				 = 100;
 		VideoOverlayDesc.sRight			 = VideoOverlayDesc.sLeft + gusOverlayPopupBoxWidth;
@@ -2856,6 +2859,9 @@ void BeginMapUIMessage( UINT8 ubPosition, STR16 pFontString, ... )
 
 	if ( giUIMessageOverlay == -1  )
 	{
+		// WDS - bug fix: VideoOverlayDesc must be initialized! - 07/16/2007
+		memset( &VideoOverlayDesc, 0, sizeof( VIDEO_OVERLAY_DESC ) );
+
 		// Set Overlay
 		VideoOverlayDesc.sLeft	 = 20 + MAP_VIEW_START_X + ( MAP_VIEW_WIDTH - gusUIMessageWidth ) / 2;
 
diff --git a/Utils/message.cpp b/Utils/message.cpp
index 1ac13664..fe37ce07 100644
--- a/Utils/message.cpp
+++ b/Utils/message.cpp
@@ -226,6 +226,9 @@ BOOLEAN CreateStringVideoOverlay( ScrollStringStPtr pStringSt, UINT16 usX, UINT1
 {
 	VIDEO_OVERLAY_DESC		VideoOverlayDesc;
 
+	// WDS - bug fix: VideoOverlayDesc must be initialized! - 07/16/2007
+	memset( &VideoOverlayDesc, 0, sizeof( VIDEO_OVERLAY_DESC ) );
+
 	// SET VIDEO OVERLAY
 	VideoOverlayDesc.sLeft			 = usX;
 	VideoOverlayDesc.sTop				 = usY;
diff --git a/gamescreen.cpp b/gamescreen.cpp
index dbf9f521..d425a628 100644
--- a/gamescreen.cpp
+++ b/gamescreen.cpp
@@ -164,6 +164,9 @@ UINT32 MainGameScreenInit(void)
 
 	SetRenderFlags(RENDER_FLAG_FULL);
 
+	// WDS - bug fix: VideoOverlayDesc must be initialized! - 07/16/2007
+	memset( &VideoOverlayDesc, 0, sizeof( VIDEO_OVERLAY_DESC ) );
+
 	// Init Video Overlays
 	// FIRST, FRAMERATE
 	VideoOverlayDesc.sLeft			 = 0;