diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree_stall.h b/kernel/rcu/tree_stall.h
index e09f4f624261..11a1fac3a589 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/tree_stall.h
+++ b/kernel/rcu/tree_stall.h
@@ -503,7 +503,8 @@ static void print_cpu_stall_info(int cpu)
 			rcu_dynticks_in_eqs(rcu_dynticks_snap(cpu));
 	rcuc_starved = rcu_is_rcuc_kthread_starving(rdp, &j);
 	if (rcuc_starved)
-		sprintf(buf, " rcuc=%ld jiffies(starved)", j);
+		// Print signed value, as negative values indicate a probable bug.
+		snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), " rcuc=%ld jiffies(starved)", j);
 	pr_err("\t%d-%c%c%c%c: (%lu %s) idle=%04x/%ld/%#lx softirq=%u/%u fqs=%ld%s%s\n",
 	       cpu,
 	       "O."[!!cpu_online(cpu)],