diff --git a/dlls/kernel32/sync.c b/dlls/kernel32/sync.c
index d9f69c3746d..821062460a9 100644
--- a/dlls/kernel32/sync.c
+++ b/dlls/kernel32/sync.c
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ HANDLE WINAPI DECLSPEC_HOTPATCH CreateEventExA( SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES *sa, LPCSTR
  */
 HANDLE WINAPI DECLSPEC_HOTPATCH CreateEventExW( SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES *sa, LPCWSTR name, DWORD flags, DWORD access )
 {
-    HANDLE ret;
+    HANDLE ret = 0;
     UNICODE_STRING nameW;
     OBJECT_ATTRIBUTES attr;
     NTSTATUS status;
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ HANDLE WINAPI DECLSPEC_HOTPATCH CreateMutexExA( SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES *sa, LPCSTR
  */
 HANDLE WINAPI DECLSPEC_HOTPATCH CreateMutexExW( SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES *sa, LPCWSTR name, DWORD flags, DWORD access )
 {
-    HANDLE ret;
+    HANDLE ret = 0;
     UNICODE_STRING nameW;
     OBJECT_ATTRIBUTES attr;
     NTSTATUS status;