diff --git a/arch/mips/sgi-ip27/ip27-timer.c b/arch/mips/sgi-ip27/ip27-timer.c
index 25d3baf0ebc4..9cebc9e7da63 100644
--- a/arch/mips/sgi-ip27/ip27-timer.c
+++ b/arch/mips/sgi-ip27/ip27-timer.c
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ static void rt_set_mode(enum clock_event_mode mode,
 	}
 }
 
-unsigned int rt_timer_irq;
+int rt_timer_irq;
 
 static irqreturn_t hub_rt_counter_handler(int irq, void *dev_id)
 {
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ static void __cpuinit hub_rt_clock_event_init(void)
 
 static void __init hub_rt_clock_event_global_init(void)
 {
-	unsigned int irq;
+	int irq;
 
 	do {
 		smp_wmb();