diff --git a/drivers/net/ieee802154/at86rf230.c b/drivers/net/ieee802154/at86rf230.c
index 7b051eacb7f184a3770294b5b0d7d60aae5fbe2d..cbfc8c5b6a343761c6934ca8f1962da6b067f3bc 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ieee802154/at86rf230.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ieee802154/at86rf230.c
@@ -689,7 +689,7 @@ at86rf230_sync_state_change_complete(void *context)
 static int
 at86rf230_sync_state_change(struct at86rf230_local *lp, unsigned int state)
 {
-	int rc;
+	unsigned long rc;
 
 	at86rf230_async_state_change(lp, &lp->state, state,
 				     at86rf230_sync_state_change_complete,