diff --git a/cpu/lm4f120/periph/timer.c b/cpu/lm4f120/periph/timer.c
index ed601c211488..cea832b319d0 100644
--- a/cpu/lm4f120/periph/timer.c
+++ b/cpu/lm4f120/periph/timer.c
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ int timer_init(tim_t dev, unsigned long freq, timer_cb_t cb, void *arg)
     unsigned int timer_base;
     unsigned int timer_side = TIMER_A;
     unsigned int timer_cfg = TIMER_CFG_SPLIT_PAIR | TIMER_CFG_A_PERIODIC_UP | TIMER_TAMR_TAMIE;
-    unsigned int timer_max_val;
+    unsigned int timer_max_val = 0;
     unsigned int timer_intbit = TIMER_TIMA_TIMEOUT | TIMER_TIMA_MATCH;
 
     switch(dev){