diff --git a/src/intel/compiler/brw_shader.cpp b/src/intel/compiler/brw_shader.cpp
index f0f26199aa1..2e7e6d7a977 100644
--- a/src/intel/compiler/brw_shader.cpp
+++ b/src/intel/compiler/brw_shader.cpp
@@ -1117,7 +1117,7 @@ brw_allocate_registers(brw_shader &s, bool allow_spilling)
    };
 
    uint32_t best_register_pressure = UINT32_MAX;
-   float best_perf = 0;
+   float best_perf = -INFINITY;
    unsigned best_press_idx = 0;
    unsigned best_perf_idx = 0;