diff --git a/source/ps/Hotkey.cpp b/source/ps/Hotkey.cpp
index 633e61d9ba..55203ecdbd 100644
--- a/source/ps/Hotkey.cpp
+++ b/source/ps/Hotkey.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* Copyright (C) 2023 Wildfire Games.
+/* Copyright (C) 2025 Wildfire Games.
  * This file is part of 0 A.D.
  *
  * 0 A.D. is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -71,7 +71,6 @@ namespace {
 
 static_assert(std::is_integral<std::underlying_type<SDL_Scancode>::type>::value, "SDL_Scancode is not an integral enum.");
 static_assert(SDL_USEREVENT_ == SDL_USEREVENT, "SDL_USEREVENT_ is not the same type as the real SDL_USEREVENT");
-static_assert(UNUSED_HOTKEY_CODE == SDL_SCANCODE_UNKNOWN);
 
 // Look up each key binding in the config file and set the mappings for
 // all key combinations that trigger it.
diff --git a/source/ps/Hotkey.h b/source/ps/Hotkey.h
index 5bcfaa19ad..46596afc47 100644
--- a/source/ps/Hotkey.h
+++ b/source/ps/Hotkey.h
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* Copyright (C) 2023 Wildfire Games.
+/* Copyright (C) 2025 Wildfire Games.
  * This file is part of 0 A.D.
  *
  * 0 A.D. is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ const uint SDL_HOTKEYUP = SDL_USEREVENT_ + 2;
 const uint SDL_HOTKEYPRESS_SILENT = SDL_USEREVENT_ + 3;
 const uint SDL_HOTKEYUP_SILENT = SDL_USEREVENT_ + 4;
 
-constexpr SDL_Scancode_ UNUSED_HOTKEY_CODE = 0; // == SDL_SCANCODE_UNKNOWN
+// Value not mapping to any valid SDL_SCANCODE_*
+constexpr SDL_Scancode_ UNUSED_HOTKEY_CODE{-1};
 
 struct SKey
 {