diff --git a/drivers/rtc/rtc-mc146818-lib.c b/drivers/rtc/rtc-mc146818-lib.c
index 70137566981e..8abac672f3cb 100644
--- a/drivers/rtc/rtc-mc146818-lib.c
+++ b/drivers/rtc/rtc-mc146818-lib.c
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ bool mc146818_does_rtc_work(void)
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(mc146818_does_rtc_work);
 
-unsigned int mc146818_get_time(struct rtc_time *time)
+int mc146818_get_time(struct rtc_time *time)
 {
 	unsigned char ctrl;
 	unsigned long flags;
diff --git a/include/linux/mc146818rtc.h b/include/linux/mc146818rtc.h
index 69c80c4325bf..37c74e25f53d 100644
--- a/include/linux/mc146818rtc.h
+++ b/include/linux/mc146818rtc.h
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ struct cmos_rtc_board_info {
 #endif /* ARCH_RTC_LOCATION */
 
 bool mc146818_does_rtc_work(void);
-unsigned int mc146818_get_time(struct rtc_time *time);
+int mc146818_get_time(struct rtc_time *time);
 int mc146818_set_time(struct rtc_time *time);
 
 #endif /* _MC146818RTC_H */