diff --git a/cpu/cc2538/periph/timer.c b/cpu/cc2538/periph/timer.c
index 703f24777a..2c41341232 100644
--- a/cpu/cc2538/periph/timer.c
+++ b/cpu/cc2538/periph/timer.c
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ int timer_set_absolute(tim_t tim, int channel, unsigned int value)
     }
     dev(tim)->IMR |= chn_isr_cfg[channel].flag;
 
-    return 1;
+    return 0;
 }
 
 int timer_clear(tim_t tim, int channel)
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ int timer_clear(tim_t tim, int channel)
     /* clear interupt flags */
     dev(tim)->IMR &= ~(chn_isr_cfg[channel].flag);
 
-    return 1;
+    return 0;
 }
 
 /*