diff --git a/sys/include/event.h b/sys/include/event.h
index dcea3c23a9..b5f1981dfd 100644
--- a/sys/include/event.h
+++ b/sys/include/event.h
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ extern "C" {
 /**
  * @brief   static initializer for detached event queues
  */
-#define EVENT_QUEUE_INIT_DETACHED   { 0 }
+#define EVENT_QUEUE_INIT_DETACHED   { .waiter = NULL }
 
 /**
  * @brief   event structure forward declaration
diff --git a/tests/events/main.c b/tests/events/main.c
index bc2672a1af..a29c368cd4 100644
--- a/tests/events/main.c
+++ b/tests/events/main.c
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ int main(void)
     puts("[START] event test application.\n");
 
     /* test creation of delayed claiming of a detached event queue */
-    event_queue_t dq;
+    event_queue_t dq = EVENT_QUEUE_INIT_DETACHED;
     printf("initializing detached event queue %p\n", (void *)&dq);
     event_queue_init_detached(&dq);