diff --git a/src/video/x11/SDL_x11clipboard.c b/src/video/x11/SDL_x11clipboard.c
index 6a4a1cec5b..a57f98eb22 100644
--- a/src/video/x11/SDL_x11clipboard.c
+++ b/src/video/x11/SDL_x11clipboard.c
@@ -273,6 +273,9 @@ bool X11_SetClipboardData(SDL_VideoDevice *_this)
 void *X11_GetClipboardData(SDL_VideoDevice *_this, const char *mime_type, size_t *length)
 {
     SDL_VideoData *videodata = _this->internal;
+
+    *length = 0;
+
     if (!SDL_HasInternalClipboardData(_this, mime_type)) {
         // This mime type wasn't advertised by the last selection owner.
         // The atom might still have data, but it's stale, so ignore it.