diff --git a/drivers/rtc/rtc-mc146818-lib.c b/drivers/rtc/rtc-mc146818-lib.c
index f1c09f1db044..43a28e82674e 100644
--- a/drivers/rtc/rtc-mc146818-lib.c
+++ b/drivers/rtc/rtc-mc146818-lib.c
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ int mc146818_get_time(struct rtc_time *time)
 
 	if (!mc146818_avoid_UIP(mc146818_get_time_callback, &p)) {
 		memset(time, 0, sizeof(*time));
-		return -EIO;
+		return -ETIMEDOUT;
 	}
 
 	if (!(p.ctrl & RTC_DM_BINARY) || RTC_ALWAYS_BCD)