diff --git a/net/atm/signaling.c b/net/atm/signaling.c
index 4fd6af47383a..adb6e3d21b1e 100644
--- a/net/atm/signaling.c
+++ b/net/atm/signaling.c
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ static int sigd_send(struct atm_vcc *vcc, struct sk_buff *skb)
 		break;
 	case as_addparty:
 	case as_dropparty:
-		sk->sk_err_soft = msg->reply;
+		sk->sk_err_soft = -msg->reply;
 					/* < 0 failure, otherwise ep_ref */
 		clear_bit(ATM_VF_WAITING, &vcc->flags);
 		break;
diff --git a/net/atm/svc.c b/net/atm/svc.c
index 3fa0a9ee98d1..878563a8354d 100644
--- a/net/atm/svc.c
+++ b/net/atm/svc.c
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ static int svc_addparty(struct socket *sock, struct sockaddr *sockaddr,
 		schedule();
 	}
 	finish_wait(sk_sleep(sk), &wait);
-	error = xchg(&sk->sk_err_soft, 0);
+	error = -xchg(&sk->sk_err_soft, 0);
 out:
 	release_sock(sk);
 	return error;
@@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ static int svc_dropparty(struct socket *sock, int ep_ref)
 		error = -EUNATCH;
 		goto out;
 	}
-	error = xchg(&sk->sk_err_soft, 0);
+	error = -xchg(&sk->sk_err_soft, 0);
 out:
 	release_sock(sk);
 	return error;