diff --git a/drivers/staging/intel_sst/intel_sst_app_interface.c b/drivers/staging/intel_sst/intel_sst_app_interface.c
index 9f31dc5e0adb..baf0ddc984c7 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/intel_sst/intel_sst_app_interface.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/intel_sst/intel_sst_app_interface.c
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ static int intel_sst_check_device(void)
  */
 int intel_sst_open(struct inode *i_node, struct file *file_ptr)
 {
-	unsigned int retval = intel_sst_check_device();
+	int retval = intel_sst_check_device();
 	if (retval)
 		return retval;
 
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ int intel_sst_open(struct inode *i_node, struct file *file_ptr)
  */
 int intel_sst_open_cntrl(struct inode *i_node, struct file *file_ptr)
 {
-	unsigned int retval = intel_sst_check_device();
+	int retval = intel_sst_check_device();
 	if (retval)
 		return retval;