diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/aquantia/atlantic/aq_hw_utils.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/aquantia/atlantic/aq_hw_utils.h
index 78fcc0c3ab4d314b65c9156f3b734e5d85216caa..03b72ddbffb9803e013e7b20738d6cb29ac2005c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/aquantia/atlantic/aq_hw_utils.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/aquantia/atlantic/aq_hw_utils.h
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ do { \
 		udelay(_US_); \
 	} \
 	if (!AQ_HW_WAIT_FOR_i) {\
-		err = ETIME; \
+		err = -ETIME; \
 	} \
 } while (0)