diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree.c b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
index f79a1c646846..094ed8ff82b4 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/tree.c
+++ b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
@@ -3386,7 +3386,7 @@ static int synchronize_sched_expedited_cpu_stop(void *data)
 void synchronize_sched_expedited(void)
 {
 	int cpu;
-	long s;
+	unsigned long s;
 	struct rcu_node *rnp;
 	struct rcu_state *rsp = &rcu_sched_state;