diff --git a/arch/mips/kernel/csrc-r4k.c b/arch/mips/kernel/csrc-r4k.c
index 0e2b5cd81f67..86e026f067bc 100644
--- a/arch/mips/kernel/csrc-r4k.c
+++ b/arch/mips/kernel/csrc-r4k.c
@@ -22,12 +22,17 @@ static struct clocksource clocksource_mips = {
 	.flags		= CLOCK_SOURCE_IS_CONTINUOUS,
 };
 
-void __init init_mips_clocksource(void)
+int __init init_mips_clocksource(void)
 {
+	if (!cpu_has_counter || !mips_hpt_frequency)
+		return -ENXIO;
+
 	/* Calclate a somewhat reasonable rating value */
 	clocksource_mips.rating = 200 + mips_hpt_frequency / 10000000;
 
 	clocksource_set_clock(&clocksource_mips, mips_hpt_frequency);
 
 	clocksource_register(&clocksource_mips);
+
+	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/include/asm-mips/time.h b/include/asm-mips/time.h
index a8fd16e1981f..d3bd5c5aa2ec 100644
--- a/include/asm-mips/time.h
+++ b/include/asm-mips/time.h
@@ -64,10 +64,11 @@ static inline int mips_clockevent_init(void)
  * Initialize the count register as a clocksource
  */
 #ifdef CONFIG_CEVT_R4K
-extern void init_mips_clocksource(void);
+extern int init_mips_clocksource(void);
 #else
-static inline void init_mips_clocksource(void)
+static inline int init_mips_clocksource(void)
 {
+	return 0;
 }
 #endif