diff --git a/net/9p/client.c b/net/9p/client.c
index a037a29f3f0e..20a33194d66e 100644
--- a/net/9p/client.c
+++ b/net/9p/client.c
@@ -71,9 +71,10 @@ inline int p9_is_proto_dotu(struct p9_client *clnt)
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(p9_is_proto_dotu);
 
 /* Interpret mount option for protocol version */
-static unsigned char get_protocol_version(const substring_t *name)
+static int get_protocol_version(const substring_t *name)
 {
-	unsigned char version = -EINVAL;
+	int version = -EINVAL;
+
 	if (!strncmp("9p2000", name->from, name->to-name->from)) {
 		version = p9_proto_legacy;
 		P9_DPRINTK(P9_DEBUG_9P, "Protocol version: Legacy\n");