diff --git a/include/c11/threads_posix.h b/include/c11/threads_posix.h
index ce9853b..11d36e4 100644
--- a/include/c11/threads_posix.h
+++ b/include/c11/threads_posix.h
@@ -180,9 +180,14 @@
       && type != (mtx_timed|mtx_recursive)
       && type != (mtx_try|mtx_recursive))
         return thrd_error;
+
+    if ((type & mtx_recursive) == 0) {
+        pthread_mutex_init(mtx, NULL);
+        return thrd_success;
+    }
+
     pthread_mutexattr_init(&attr);
-    if ((type & mtx_recursive) != 0)
-        pthread_mutexattr_settype(&attr, PTHREAD_MUTEX_RECURSIVE);
+    pthread_mutexattr_settype(&attr, PTHREAD_MUTEX_RECURSIVE);
     pthread_mutex_init(mtx, &attr);
     pthread_mutexattr_destroy(&attr);
     return thrd_success;