diff --git a/arch/x86/include/asm/apic.h b/arch/x86/include/asm/apic.h
index 050e5f9ebf81c..e647aa095867f 100644
--- a/arch/x86/include/asm/apic.h
+++ b/arch/x86/include/asm/apic.h
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ static inline void generic_apic_probe(void)
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_X86_LOCAL_APIC
 
-extern unsigned int apic_verbosity;
+extern int apic_verbosity;
 extern int local_apic_timer_c2_ok;
 
 extern int disable_apic;
diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/apic/apic.c b/arch/x86/kernel/apic/apic.c
index 1bd91cb7b320a..f5291362da1ad 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/apic/apic.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/apic/apic.c
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(local_apic_timer_c2_ok);
 /*
  * Debug level, exported for io_apic.c
  */
-unsigned int apic_verbosity;
+int apic_verbosity;
 
 int pic_mode;