diff --git a/tests/xtimer_msg_receive_timeout/main.c b/tests/xtimer_msg_receive_timeout/main.c
index 3e12ec64f2..07725f0e69 100644
--- a/tests/xtimer_msg_receive_timeout/main.c
+++ b/tests/xtimer_msg_receive_timeout/main.c
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ int main(void)
     xtimer_t t;
     int64_t offset = -1000;
     tmsg.type = 44;
+    t.target = 0;
+    t.long_target = 0;
 
     for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
         xtimer_set_msg(&t, TEST_PERIOD + offset, &tmsg, sched_active_pid);