diff --git a/src/kx122/kx122.c b/src/kx122/kx122.c
index 8a5718ad..711c39e2 100644
--- a/src/kx122/kx122.c
+++ b/src/kx122/kx122.c
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ float kx122_get_sample_period(const kx122_context dev)
     {KX122_ODR_12800,128000},{KX122_ODR_25600,25600}
   };
 
-  uint8_t reg_val;
+  uint8_t reg_val = 0;
 
   kx122_read_register(dev,KX122_ODCNTL, &reg_val);
   reg_val = reg_val & KX122_ODCNTL_OSA_MASK;