diff --git a/sound/sound_core.c b/sound/sound_core.c
index 11e953a1fa45..99b73c675743 100644
--- a/sound/sound_core.c
+++ b/sound/sound_core.c
@@ -655,7 +655,7 @@ static void cleanup_oss_soundcore(void)
 static int __init init_oss_soundcore(void)
 {
 	if (preclaim_oss &&
-	    register_chrdev(SOUND_MAJOR, "sound", &soundcore_fops) == -1) {
+	    register_chrdev(SOUND_MAJOR, "sound", &soundcore_fops) < 0) {
 		printk(KERN_ERR "soundcore: sound device already in use.\n");
 		return -EBUSY;
 	}