diff --git a/xf86drm.c b/xf86drm.c
index 1e87610b..344326db 100644
--- a/xf86drm.c
+++ b/xf86drm.c
@@ -4278,7 +4278,7 @@ int drmSyncobjWait(int fd, uint32_t *handles, unsigned num_handles,
 
     ret = drmIoctl(fd, DRM_IOCTL_SYNCOBJ_WAIT, &args);
     if (ret < 0)
-        return ret;
+        return -errno;
 
     if (first_signaled)
         *first_signaled = args.first_signaled;