diff --git a/src/xml-fortran/xmlreader.f90 b/src/xml-fortran/xmlreader.f90
index c53b1ae71f..2daf2fa1ac 100644
--- a/src/xml-fortran/xmlreader.f90
+++ b/src/xml-fortran/xmlreader.f90
@@ -552,6 +552,7 @@ subroutine write_prolog
   &   '   use WRITE_XML_PRIMITIVES', &
   &   '   use XMLPARSE', &
   &   '   implicit none', &
+  &   '   save', &
   &   '   integer, private :: lurep_', &
   &   '   logical, private :: strict_'