diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_cmds.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_cmds.c
index 9904bbfd4e93..e632bd2d561c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_cmds.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/emulex/benet/be_cmds.c
@@ -2224,7 +2224,7 @@ int lancer_cmd_write_object(struct be_adapter *adapter, struct be_dma_mem *cmd,
 
 	if (!wait_for_completion_timeout(&adapter->et_cmd_compl,
 					 msecs_to_jiffies(60000)))
-		status = -1;
+		status = -ETIMEDOUT;
 	else
 		status = adapter->flash_status;
 
@@ -2320,7 +2320,7 @@ int be_cmd_write_flashrom(struct be_adapter *adapter, struct be_dma_mem *cmd,
 
 	if (!wait_for_completion_timeout(&adapter->et_cmd_compl,
 					 msecs_to_jiffies(40000)))
-		status = -1;
+		status = -ETIMEDOUT;
 	else
 		status = adapter->flash_status;