Postgress Error in initdb - Mailing list pgsql-ports

Postgres v6.4.2 source
unknown error while running initdb
get this message:
    Running: postgres -boot -C -F -D/usr/local/pgsql/data -Q template1
     syntax error: 2305: parse error

    ERROR: pg_atoi: error in template1: can't parse template1
    could not log template data base

Compiled and installed source cleanly without incident. No patches or fixes.
Runing RedHat Linux 5.1 (Manhattan) linux Kernel 2.0.35 on i586 noname PC.

Please advise.