diff --git a/fs/nfs/nfs4namespace.c b/fs/nfs/nfs4namespace.c
index a7f3dedc4ec7..3f5519b7c8c8 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/nfs4namespace.c
+++ b/fs/nfs/nfs4namespace.c
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ struct rpc_clnt *nfs4_create_sec_client(struct rpc_clnt *clnt, struct inode *ino
 	rpc_authflavor_t flavor;
 
 	flavor = nfs4_negotiate_security(inode, name);
-	if (flavor < 0)
+	if ((int)flavor < 0)
 		return ERR_PTR(flavor);
 
 	clone = rpc_clone_client(clnt);