diff --git a/include/semaphore.h b/include/semaphore.h
index 6fee2477c4..0056909db6 100644
--- a/include/semaphore.h
+++ b/include/semaphore.h
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ typedef struct sem_s sem_t;
     {(c), 0, NULL}                 /* semcount, flags, hhead */
 # else
 #  define SEM_INITIALIZER(c) \
-    {(c), 0, SEMHOLDER_INITIALIZER, SEMHOLDER_INITIALIZER} /* semcount, flags, holder[2] */
+    {(c), 0, {SEMHOLDER_INITIALIZER, SEMHOLDER_INITIALIZER}} /* semcount, flags, holder[2] */
 # endif
 #else
 #  define SEM_INITIALIZER(c) \