diff --git a/test/validation/api/buffer/buffer.c b/test/validation/api/buffer/buffer.c
index 1d0cc9d01c9..909608ed815 100644
--- a/test/validation/api/buffer/buffer.c
+++ b/test/validation/api/buffer/buffer.c
@@ -537,7 +537,7 @@ static void buffer_test_user_area(void)
 
 	for (i = 0; i < num; i++) {
 		odp_event_t ev;
-		int flag;
+		int flag = 0;
 
 		buffer[i] = odp_buffer_alloc(pool);
 
diff --git a/test/validation/api/dma/dma.c b/test/validation/api/dma/dma.c
index 36a025b0dcb..fc15be8f272 100644
--- a/test/validation/api/dma/dma.c
+++ b/test/validation/api/dma/dma.c
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ static void test_dma_compl_user_area(void)
 
 	for (i = 0; i < num; i++) {
 		odp_event_t ev;
-		int flag;
+		int flag = 0;
 
 		compl_evs[i] = odp_dma_compl_alloc(pool);
 
diff --git a/test/validation/api/ipsec/ipsec.c b/test/validation/api/ipsec/ipsec.c
index 87688838b53..da60c77b310 100644
--- a/test/validation/api/ipsec/ipsec.c
+++ b/test/validation/api/ipsec/ipsec.c
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ static void ipsec_status_event_handle(odp_event_t ev_status,
 				      odp_ipsec_sa_t sa,
 				      enum ipsec_test_sa_expiry sa_expiry)
 {
-	int flag;
+	int flag = 0;
 	odp_ipsec_status_t status = {
 		.id = 0,
 		.sa = ODP_IPSEC_SA_INVALID,
diff --git a/test/validation/api/timer/timer.c b/test/validation/api/timer/timer.c
index 1927156badb..9b08847f9fa 100644
--- a/test/validation/api/timer/timer.c
+++ b/test/validation/api/timer/timer.c
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ static void timer_test_timeout_user_area(void)
 
 	for (i = 0; i < num; i++) {
 		odp_event_t ev;
-		int flag;
+		int flag = 0;
 
 		tmo[i] = odp_timeout_alloc(pool);