diff --git a/lib/sysutil/tickdelay.c b/lib/sysutil/tickdelay.c
index fcf770711..bb74160bb 100644
--- a/lib/sysutil/tickdelay.c
+++ b/lib/sysutil/tickdelay.c
@@ -14,10 +14,9 @@ long ticks;				/* number of ticks to wait */
  * previous) alarm will also delay the previous alarm.
  */
     message m, m_alarm;
-    clock_t time_left;
     int s;
 
-    if (ticks <= 0) return;		/* check for robustness */
+    if (ticks <= 0) return OK;		/* check for robustness */
 
     m.ALRM_ENDPT = SELF;		/* SELF means this process nr */
     m.ALRM_EXP_TIME = ticks;		/* request message after ticks */