diff --git a/arch/mips/kernel/smtc.c b/arch/mips/kernel/smtc.c
index 25e825aea327..a95dea5459c4 100644
--- a/arch/mips/kernel/smtc.c
+++ b/arch/mips/kernel/smtc.c
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ static int vpemask[2][8] = {
 	{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1}
 };
 int tcnoprog[NR_CPUS];
-static atomic_t idle_hook_initialized = {0};
+static atomic_t idle_hook_initialized = ATOMIC_INIT(0);
 static int clock_hang_reported[NR_CPUS];
 
 #endif /* CONFIG_SMTC_IDLE_HOOK_DEBUG */