diff --git a/drivers/target/target_core_alua.c b/drivers/target/target_core_alua.c
index cbe48ab41745..f608fbc14a27 100644
--- a/drivers/target/target_core_alua.c
+++ b/drivers/target/target_core_alua.c
@@ -730,7 +730,7 @@ static int core_alua_write_tpg_metadata(
 	if (ret < 0)
 		pr_err("Error writing ALUA metadata file: %s\n", path);
 	fput(file);
-	return ret ? -EIO : 0;
+	return (ret < 0) ? -EIO : 0;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/drivers/target/target_core_pr.c b/drivers/target/target_core_pr.c
index 3240f2cc81ef..04a74938bb43 100644
--- a/drivers/target/target_core_pr.c
+++ b/drivers/target/target_core_pr.c
@@ -1987,7 +1987,7 @@ static int __core_scsi3_write_aptpl_to_file(
 		pr_debug("Error writing APTPL metadata file: %s\n", path);
 	fput(file);
 
-	return ret ? -EIO : 0;
+	return (ret < 0) ? -EIO : 0;
 }
 
 static int