diff --git a/ext/alsa/gstalsa.c b/ext/alsa/gstalsa.c
index e1aed95f77..d7e98ae391 100644
--- a/ext/alsa/gstalsa.c
+++ b/ext/alsa/gstalsa.c
@@ -271,6 +271,7 @@ caps_add_channel_configuration (GstCaps * caps,
           channel_mask = CHANNEL_MASK_7_1;
           break;
         default:
+          channel_mask = 0;
           g_assert_not_reached ();
           break;
       }
diff --git a/tests/examples/playback/playback-test.c b/tests/examples/playback/playback-test.c
index cef653e93d..dd1b86197e 100644
--- a/tests/examples/playback/playback-test.c
+++ b/tests/examples/playback/playback-test.c
@@ -1611,7 +1611,7 @@ colorbalance_value_changed (GtkRange * range, PlaybackApp * app)
   else if (range == GTK_RANGE (app->saturation_scale))
     label = "SATURATION";
   else
-    g_assert_not_reached ();
+    g_return_if_reached ();
 
   val = gtk_range_get_value (range);