diff --git a/lib-src/timer.c b/lib-src/timer.c
index d49925fb139..51642813fe3 100644
--- a/lib-src/timer.c
+++ b/lib-src/timer.c
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ schedule (str)
 void
 notify ()
 {
-  time_t now, tdiff, waitfor;
+  time_t now, tdiff, waitfor = -1;
   register struct event *ep;
 
   now = time ((time_t *) NULL);