diff --git a/net/tipc/handler.c b/net/tipc/handler.c
index 966f70a..ae6ddf0 100644
--- a/net/tipc/handler.c
+++ b/net/tipc/handler.c
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 
 static kmem_cache_t *tipc_queue_item_cache;
 static struct list_head signal_queue_head;
-static spinlock_t qitem_lock = SPIN_LOCK_UNLOCKED;
+static DEFINE_SPINLOCK(qitem_lock);
 static int handler_enabled = 0;
 
 static void process_signal_queue(unsigned long dummy);