diff --git a/include/mbedtls/timing.h b/include/mbedtls/timing.h
index 2d4a19c01a..830dcee635 100644
--- a/include/mbedtls/timing.h
+++ b/include/mbedtls/timing.h
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ extern "C" {
  * \brief          timer structure
  */
 struct mbedtls_timing_hr_time {
-    unsigned char MBEDTLS_PRIVATE(opaque)[32];
+    uint64_t MBEDTLS_PRIVATE(opaque)[4];
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/tests/suites/test_suite_timing.function b/tests/suites/test_suite_timing.function
index 821ebd6783..4143a1c511 100644
--- a/tests/suites/test_suite_timing.function
+++ b/tests/suites/test_suite_timing.function
@@ -20,8 +20,20 @@
 void timing_get_timer()
 {
     struct mbedtls_timing_hr_time time;
+
+    memset(&time, 0, sizeof(time));
+
     (void) mbedtls_timing_get_timer(&time, 1);
+
+    /* Check that a non-zero time was written back */
+    int all_zero = 1;
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < sizeof(time); i++) {
+        all_zero &= ((unsigned char *) &time)[i] == 0;
+    }
+    TEST_ASSERT(!all_zero);
+
     (void) mbedtls_timing_get_timer(&time, 0);
+
     /* This goto is added to avoid warnings from the generated code. */
     goto exit;
 }