diff --git a/gtk/gtktypeutils.c b/gtk/gtktypeutils.c
index 986f9ff188..6047d6f218 100644
--- a/gtk/gtktypeutils.c
+++ b/gtk/gtktypeutils.c
@@ -125,6 +125,8 @@ gtk_type_init (GTypeDebugFlags debug_flags)
   
   if (!initialized)
     {
+      GType unused;
+
       initialized = TRUE;
 
       /* initialize GLib type system
@@ -133,7 +135,7 @@ gtk_type_init (GTypeDebugFlags debug_flags)
       
       /* GTK_TYPE_OBJECT
        */
-      gtk_object_get_type ();
+      unused = gtk_object_get_type ();
     }
 }