diff --git a/src/v/serde/parquet/schema.h b/src/v/serde/parquet/schema.h
index f4493eaebfb1f..d616781a711a3 100644
--- a/src/v/serde/parquet/schema.h
+++ b/src/v/serde/parquet/schema.h
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ struct schema_element {
      *
      * This must be set to required on the schema root
      */
-    field_repetition_type repetition_type;
+    field_repetition_type repetition_type{field_repetition_type::required};
 
     /**
      * The full path of the node within the schema.