diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en.h
index b34b85539f3b..5bced924a24f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en.h
@@ -179,7 +179,8 @@ static inline u16 mlx5_min_rx_wqes(int wq_type, u32 wq_size)
 }
 
 /* Use this function to get max num channels (rxqs/txqs) only to create netdev */
-static inline int mlx5e_get_max_num_channels(struct mlx5_core_dev *mdev)
+static inline unsigned int
+mlx5e_get_max_num_channels(struct mlx5_core_dev *mdev)
 {
 	return is_kdump_kernel() ?
 		MLX5E_MIN_NUM_CHANNELS :