diff --git a/drivers/kw2xrf/include/kw2xrf_getset.h b/drivers/kw2xrf/include/kw2xrf_getset.h
index 0b02cc282f..5ffdf29d8c 100644
--- a/drivers/kw2xrf/include/kw2xrf_getset.h
+++ b/drivers/kw2xrf/include/kw2xrf_getset.h
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ uint8_t kw2xrf_get_cca_mode(kw2xrf_t *dev);
  *
  * @return              deduced RSSI in dBm
  */
-uint32_t kw2xrf_get_rssi(uint32_t value);
+int16_t kw2xrf_get_rssi(uint32_t value);
 
 /**
  * @brief   Get state of a given device
diff --git a/drivers/kw2xrf/kw2xrf_getset.c b/drivers/kw2xrf/kw2xrf_getset.c
index 71c1fe5321..b3bd2f07ee 100644
--- a/drivers/kw2xrf/kw2xrf_getset.c
+++ b/drivers/kw2xrf/kw2xrf_getset.c
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ uint8_t kw2xrf_get_cca_mode(kw2xrf_t *dev)
     return (tmp & MKW2XDM_PHY_CTRL4_CCATYPE_MASK) >> MKW2XDM_PHY_CTRL4_CCATYPE_SHIFT;
 }
 
-uint32_t kw2xrf_get_rssi(uint32_t value)
+int16_t kw2xrf_get_rssi(uint32_t value)
 {
     /* Get rssi (Received Signal Strength Indicator, unit is dBm)
      * from lqi (Link Quality Indicator) value.
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ uint32_t kw2xrf_get_rssi(uint32_t value)
      */
     uint32_t a = (uint32_t)(295.4 * 65536 / 2.84);
     uint32_t b = (uint32_t)(65536 / 2.84);
-    return (a - (b * value)) >> 16;
+    return ((b * value) - a) >> 16;
 }
 
 void kw2xrf_set_option(kw2xrf_t *dev, uint16_t option, bool state)
diff --git a/drivers/kw2xrf/kw2xrf_netdev.c b/drivers/kw2xrf/kw2xrf_netdev.c
index 5511b5ea22..e0a876711b 100644
--- a/drivers/kw2xrf/kw2xrf_netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/kw2xrf/kw2xrf_netdev.c
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ static int _recv(netdev_t *netdev, void *buf, size_t len, void *info)
     if (info != NULL) {
         netdev_ieee802154_rx_info_t *radio_info = info;
         radio_info->lqi = ((uint8_t*)buf)[pkt_len];
-        radio_info->rssi = (uint8_t)kw2xrf_get_rssi(radio_info->lqi);
+        radio_info->rssi = kw2xrf_get_rssi(radio_info->lqi);
     }
 
     /* skip FCS and LQI */