diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_dynevent.c b/kernel/trace/trace_dynevent.c
index dd1f43588d70..fa100ed3b4de 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_dynevent.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_dynevent.c
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ int dyn_event_release(int argc, char **argv, struct dyn_event_operations *type)
 static int create_dyn_event(int argc, char **argv)
 {
 	struct dyn_event_operations *ops;
-	int ret;
+	int ret = -ENODEV;
 
 	if (argv[0][0] == '-' || argv[0][0] == '!')
 		return dyn_event_release(argc, argv, NULL);