diff --git a/arch/i386/kernel/hpet.c b/arch/i386/kernel/hpet.c
index f3ab61ee7498..76afea67f691 100644
--- a/arch/i386/kernel/hpet.c
+++ b/arch/i386/kernel/hpet.c
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ static int hpet_next_event(unsigned long delta,
 	cnt += delta;
 	hpet_writel(cnt, HPET_T0_CMP);
 
-	return ((long)(hpet_readl(HPET_COUNTER) - cnt ) > 0);
+	return ((long)(hpet_readl(HPET_COUNTER) - cnt ) > 0) ? -ETIME : 0;
 }
 
 /*