diff --git a/fs/cifs/cifssmb.c b/fs/cifs/cifssmb.c
index 641cc8ffc51b..1cbe61524efc 100644
--- a/fs/cifs/cifssmb.c
+++ b/fs/cifs/cifssmb.c
@@ -1767,7 +1767,7 @@ CIFSSMBPosixLock(const int xid, struct cifsTconInfo *tcon,
 	cFYI(1, ("Posix Lock"));
 
 	if (pLockData == NULL)
-		return EINVAL;
+		return -EINVAL;
 
 	rc = small_smb_init(SMB_COM_TRANSACTION2, 15, tcon, (void **) &pSMB);