diff --git a/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/nand_base.c b/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/nand_base.c
index 5c6b065837eff2..a130320de4128e 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/nand_base.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/nand/raw/nand_base.c
@@ -926,7 +926,7 @@ int nand_choose_best_sdr_timings(struct nand_chip *chip,
 				 struct nand_sdr_timings *spec_timings)
 {
 	const struct nand_controller_ops *ops = chip->controller->ops;
-	int best_mode = 0, mode, ret;
+	int best_mode = 0, mode, ret = -EOPNOTSUPP;
 
 	iface->type = NAND_SDR_IFACE;
 
@@ -977,7 +977,7 @@ int nand_choose_best_nvddr_timings(struct nand_chip *chip,
 				   struct nand_nvddr_timings *spec_timings)
 {
 	const struct nand_controller_ops *ops = chip->controller->ops;
-	int best_mode = 0, mode, ret;
+	int best_mode = 0, mode, ret = -EOPNOTSUPP;
 
 	iface->type = NAND_NVDDR_IFACE;