diff --git a/drivers/sds011/sds011_saul.c b/drivers/sds011/sds011_saul.c
index d57e125f9e..1f2ee336d1 100644
--- a/drivers/sds011/sds011_saul.c
+++ b/drivers/sds011/sds011_saul.c
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ static int _read(const void *dev, phydat_t *res)
        res->scale = -7;
        return 2;
     }
-    return ECANCELED;
+    return -ECANCELED;
 }
 
 const saul_driver_t sds011_saul_driver = {