diff --git a/src/thread/pthread/SDL_syssem.c b/src/thread/pthread/SDL_syssem.c
index 65179461a..0a244db4e 100644
--- a/src/thread/pthread/SDL_syssem.c
+++ b/src/thread/pthread/SDL_syssem.c
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ void SDL_DestroySemaphore(SDL_sem *sem)
 
 int SDL_SemWaitTimeoutNS(SDL_sem *sem, Sint64 timeoutNS)
 {
-    int retval;
+    int retval = 0;
 #ifdef HAVE_SEM_TIMEDWAIT
 #ifndef HAVE_CLOCK_GETTIME
     struct timeval now;