diff --git a/src/thread/pthread/SDL_syssem.c b/src/thread/pthread/SDL_syssem.c
index c933acbd0..3a5a5a2ad 100644
--- a/src/thread/pthread/SDL_syssem.c
+++ b/src/thread/pthread/SDL_syssem.c
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ int SDL_SemWait(SDL_sem *sem)
 
 int SDL_SemWaitTimeout(SDL_sem *sem, Uint32 timeout)
 {
-    int retval;
+    int retval = 0;
 #ifdef HAVE_SEM_TIMEDWAIT
 #ifndef HAVE_CLOCK_GETTIME
     struct timeval now;