diff --git a/lib/string.c b/lib/string.c
index b19b87af65a3..e96421ab9a9a 100644
--- a/lib/string.c
+++ b/lib/string.c
@@ -246,13 +246,17 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(strlcat);
 #undef strcmp
 int strcmp(const char *cs, const char *ct)
 {
-	signed char __res;
+	unsigned char c1, c2;
 
 	while (1) {
-		if ((__res = *cs - *ct++) != 0 || !*cs++)
+		c1 = *cs++;
+		c2 = *ct++;
+		if (c1 != c2)
+			return c1 < c2 ? -1 : 1;
+		if (!c1)
 			break;
 	}
-	return __res;
+	return 0;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(strcmp);
 #endif
@@ -266,14 +270,18 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(strcmp);
  */
 int strncmp(const char *cs, const char *ct, size_t count)
 {
-	signed char __res = 0;
+	unsigned char c1, c2;
 
 	while (count) {
-		if ((__res = *cs - *ct++) != 0 || !*cs++)
+		c1 = *cs++;
+		c2 = *ct++;
+		if (c1 != c2)
+			return c1 < c2 ? -1 : 1;
+		if (!c1)
 			break;
 		count--;
 	}
-	return __res;
+	return 0;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(strncmp);
 #endif