diff --git a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-nomadik.c b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-nomadik.c
index 6ca6ad6d901a..bcd17e8cbcb4 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-nomadik.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-nomadik.c
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ static void setup_i2c_controller(struct nmk_i2c_dev *dev)
  */
 static int read_i2c(struct nmk_i2c_dev *dev, u16 flags)
 {
-	u32 status = 0;
+	int status = 0;
 	u32 mcr, irq_mask;
 	unsigned long timeout;