diff --git a/include/block/nbd.h b/include/block/nbd.h
index f7450608b4..040cdd2e60 100644
--- a/include/block/nbd.h
+++ b/include/block/nbd.h
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ int nbd_receive_negotiate(QIOChannel *ioc, const char *name,
                           Error **errp);
 int nbd_init(int fd, QIOChannelSocket *sioc, NBDExportInfo *info,
              Error **errp);
-ssize_t nbd_send_request(QIOChannel *ioc, NBDRequest *request);
+int nbd_send_request(QIOChannel *ioc, NBDRequest *request);
 int nbd_receive_reply(QIOChannel *ioc, NBDReply *reply, Error **errp);
 int nbd_client(int fd);
 int nbd_disconnect(int fd);
diff --git a/nbd/client.c b/nbd/client.c
index f8c213bc96..68a0bc1ffc 100644
--- a/nbd/client.c
+++ b/nbd/client.c
@@ -896,7 +896,7 @@ int nbd_disconnect(int fd)
 }
 #endif
 
-ssize_t nbd_send_request(QIOChannel *ioc, NBDRequest *request)
+int nbd_send_request(QIOChannel *ioc, NBDRequest *request)
 {
     uint8_t buf[NBD_REQUEST_SIZE];