diff --git a/ch02/src/main/python/max_temperature_reduce.py b/ch02/src/main/python/max_temperature_reduce.py
index 1c455d20..79b84ac5 100755
--- a/ch02/src/main/python/max_temperature_reduce.py
+++ b/ch02/src/main/python/max_temperature_reduce.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 import sys
 
-(last_key, max_val) = (None, 0)
+(last_key, max_val) = (None, -sys.maxint)
 for line in sys.stdin:
   (key, val) = line.strip().split("\t")
   if last_key and last_key != key:
diff --git a/ch02/src/main/ruby/max_temperature_reduce.rb b/ch02/src/main/ruby/max_temperature_reduce.rb
index b30d933a..c2479564 100755
--- a/ch02/src/main/ruby/max_temperature_reduce.rb
+++ b/ch02/src/main/ruby/max_temperature_reduce.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env ruby
 
-last_key, max_val = nil, 0
+last_key, max_val = nil, -1000000
 STDIN.each_line do |line|
   key, val = line.split("\t")
   if last_key && last_key != key