diff --git a/lib/database.cc b/lib/database.cc
index bcea88b0..169dc5e2 100644
--- a/lib/database.cc
+++ b/lib/database.cc
@@ -648,6 +648,7 @@ notmuch_database_get_timestamp (notmuch_database_t *notmuch, const char *key)
 
 	ret =  Xapian::sortable_unserialise (doc.get_value (NOTMUCH_VALUE_TIMESTAMP));
     } catch (Xapian::Error &error) {
+	ret = 0;
 	goto DONE;
     }