diff --git a/src/basic/fs-util.c b/src/basic/fs-util.c
index 027f86fc0b..cc8c5e1c3e 100644
--- a/src/basic/fs-util.c
+++ b/src/basic/fs-util.c
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ int fd_warn_permissions(const char *path, int fd) {
 
 int touch_file(const char *path, bool parents, usec_t stamp, uid_t uid, gid_t gid, mode_t mode) {
         _cleanup_close_ int fd = -1;
-        int r, ret = 0;
+        int r, ret;
 
         assert(path);