diff --git a/arch/x86/include/asm/apic.h b/arch/x86/include/asm/apic.h
index fd810a57ab1b..3328a37ddc75 100644
--- a/arch/x86/include/asm/apic.h
+++ b/arch/x86/include/asm/apic.h
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ static inline void generic_apic_probe(void)
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_X86_LOCAL_APIC
 
-extern unsigned int apic_verbosity;
+extern int apic_verbosity;
 extern int local_apic_timer_c2_ok;
 
 extern int disable_apic;
diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/apic/apic.c b/arch/x86/kernel/apic/apic.c
index deddc9b93299..cc6c33249850 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/apic/apic.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/apic/apic.c
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ int first_system_vector = FIRST_SYSTEM_VECTOR;
 /*
  * Debug level, exported for io_apic.c
  */
-unsigned int apic_verbosity;
+int apic_verbosity;
 
 int pic_mode;