diff --git a/samples/drivers/flash_shell/src/main.c b/samples/drivers/flash_shell/src/main.c
index 8e01958b2e8..a57d49681d8 100644
--- a/samples/drivers/flash_shell/src/main.c
+++ b/samples/drivers/flash_shell/src/main.c
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ static int do_write(const struct shell *shell, off_t offset, uint8_t *buf,
 static int do_write_unaligned(const struct shell *shell, off_t offset, uint8_t *buf,
 		    size_t len, bool read_back)
 {
-	int ret;
+	int ret = 0;
 	size_t page_size = flash_get_write_block_size(flash_device);
 	size_t size_before = offset % page_size;
 	size_t size_after = page_size - ((size_before + len) % page_size);