diff --git a/drivers/tty/serial/kgdb_nmi.c b/drivers/tty/serial/kgdb_nmi.c
index b193bbc666d4..3e7c6ee8e4b3 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/serial/kgdb_nmi.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/serial/kgdb_nmi.c
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ static void kgdb_tty_recv(int ch)
 static int kgdb_nmi_poll_one_knock(void)
 {
 	static int n;
-	int c = -1;
+	int c;
 	const char *magic = kgdb_nmi_magic;
 	size_t m = strlen(magic);
 	bool printch = false;