diff --git a/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_dw.c b/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_dw.c
index 6ee55a2d47bb..223ac234ddb2 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_dw.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_dw.c
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ static void dw8250_set_termios(struct uart_port *p, struct ktermios *termios,
 {
 	unsigned int baud = tty_termios_baud_rate(termios);
 	struct dw8250_data *d = p->private_data;
-	unsigned int rate;
+	long rate;
 	int ret;
 
 	if (IS_ERR(d->clk) || !old)
@@ -265,7 +265,10 @@ static void dw8250_set_termios(struct uart_port *p, struct ktermios *termios,
 
 	clk_disable_unprepare(d->clk);
 	rate = clk_round_rate(d->clk, baud * 16);
-	ret = clk_set_rate(d->clk, rate);
+	if (rate < 0)
+		ret = rate;
+	else
+		ret = clk_set_rate(d->clk, rate);
 	clk_prepare_enable(d->clk);
 
 	if (!ret)