diff --git a/sound/core/timer.c b/sound/core/timer.c
index bce3fe051fbf06..7cf2dc8850d10d 100644
--- a/sound/core/timer.c
+++ b/sound/core/timer.c
@@ -822,6 +822,7 @@ int snd_timer_new(struct snd_card *card, char *id, struct snd_timer_id *tid,
 	timer->tmr_subdevice = tid->subdevice;
 	if (id)
 		strlcpy(timer->id, id, sizeof(timer->id));
+	timer->sticks = 1;
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&timer->device_list);
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&timer->open_list_head);
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&timer->active_list_head);