diff --git a/kernel/time/alarmtimer.c b/kernel/time/alarmtimer.c
index 2c97e8c2d29f..0519a8805aab 100644
--- a/kernel/time/alarmtimer.c
+++ b/kernel/time/alarmtimer.c
@@ -594,7 +594,7 @@ static ktime_t alarm_timer_remaining(struct k_itimer *timr, ktime_t now)
 {
 	struct alarm *alarm = &timr->it.alarm.alarmtimer;
 
-	return ktime_sub(now, alarm->node.expires);
+	return ktime_sub(alarm->node.expires, now);
 }
 
 /**