diff --git a/dma.h b/dma.h
index 298ceffc..2a0226c8 100644
--- a/dma.h
+++ b/dma.h
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
 
 #define Q_READ(_q, _field) ({						\
 	u32 _offset = offsetof(struct mt76_queue_regs, _field);		\
-	u32 _val;							\
+	u32 _val = 0;							\
 	if ((_q)->flags & MT_QFLAG_NPU) {				\
 		struct airoha_npu *npu;					\
 									\