diff --git a/tools/power/cpupower/utils/helpers/topology.c b/tools/power/cpupower/utils/helpers/topology.c
index 4eae2c47ba48..216f3e3466ce 100644
--- a/tools/power/cpupower/utils/helpers/topology.c
+++ b/tools/power/cpupower/utils/helpers/topology.c
@@ -20,9 +20,8 @@
 #include <helpers/sysfs.h>
 
 /* returns -1 on failure, 0 on success */
-int sysfs_topology_read_file(unsigned int cpu, const char *fname)
+static int sysfs_topology_read_file(unsigned int cpu, const char *fname, int *result)
 {
-	unsigned long value;
 	char linebuf[MAX_LINE_LEN];
 	char *endp;
 	char path[SYSFS_PATH_MAX];
@@ -31,10 +30,10 @@ int sysfs_topology_read_file(unsigned int cpu, const char *fname)
 			 cpu, fname);
 	if (sysfs_read_file(path, linebuf, MAX_LINE_LEN) == 0)
 		return -1;
-	value = strtoul(linebuf, &endp, 0);
+	*result = strtol(linebuf, &endp, 0);
 	if (endp == linebuf || errno == ERANGE)
 		return -1;
-	return value;
+	return 0;
 }
 
 struct cpuid_core_info {
@@ -82,13 +81,19 @@ int get_cpu_topology(struct cpupower_topology *cpu_top)
 	for (cpu = 0; cpu < cpus; cpu++) {
 		cpu_top->core_info[cpu].cpu = cpu;
 		cpu_top->core_info[cpu].is_online = sysfs_is_cpu_online(cpu);
-		cpu_top->core_info[cpu].pkg =
-			sysfs_topology_read_file(cpu, "physical_package_id");
+		if(sysfs_topology_read_file(
+			cpu,
+			"physical_package_id",
+			&(cpu_top->core_info[cpu].pkg)) < 0)
+			return -1;
 		if ((int)cpu_top->core_info[cpu].pkg != -1 &&
 		    cpu_top->core_info[cpu].pkg > cpu_top->pkgs)
 			cpu_top->pkgs = cpu_top->core_info[cpu].pkg;
-		cpu_top->core_info[cpu].core =
-			sysfs_topology_read_file(cpu, "core_id");
+		if(sysfs_topology_read_file(
+			cpu,
+			"core_id",
+			&(cpu_top->core_info[cpu].core)) < 0)
+			return -1;
 	}
 	cpu_top->pkgs++;