diff --git a/drivers/rtc/rtc-mc146818-lib.c b/drivers/rtc/rtc-mc146818-lib.c
index f62e658cbe23..7f689f1bafc5 100644
--- a/drivers/rtc/rtc-mc146818-lib.c
+++ b/drivers/rtc/rtc-mc146818-lib.c
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ static void mc146818_get_time_callback(unsigned char seconds, void *param_in)
 	p->ctrl = CMOS_READ(RTC_CONTROL);
 }
 
-unsigned int mc146818_get_time(struct rtc_time *time)
+int mc146818_get_time(struct rtc_time *time)
 {
 	struct mc146818_get_time_callback_param p = {
 		.time = time
diff --git a/include/linux/mc146818rtc.h b/include/linux/mc146818rtc.h
index 67fb0a12becc..808bb4cee230 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);
 
 bool mc146818_avoid_UIP(void (*callback)(unsigned char seconds, void *param),