diff --git a/drivers/rtc/rtc-mc146818-lib.c b/drivers/rtc/rtc-mc146818-lib.c
index 3783aaf9dd5a..347655d24b5d 100644
--- a/drivers/rtc/rtc-mc146818-lib.c
+++ b/drivers/rtc/rtc-mc146818-lib.c
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ 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 fb042e0e7d76..b0da04fe087b 100644
--- a/include/linux/mc146818rtc.h
+++ b/include/linux/mc146818rtc.h
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ 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),