diff --git a/drivers/ata/sata_sil.c b/drivers/ata/sata_sil.c
index 98c1d780f552..9dfb40b8c2c9 100644
--- a/drivers/ata/sata_sil.c
+++ b/drivers/ata/sata_sil.c
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ static void sil_host_intr(struct ata_port *ap, u32 bmdma2)
 	u8 status;
 
 	if (unlikely(bmdma2 & SIL_DMA_SATA_IRQ)) {
-		u32 serror;
+		u32 serror = 0xffffffff;
 
 		/* SIEN doesn't mask SATA IRQs on some 3112s.  Those
 		 * controllers continue to assert IRQ as long as