diff --git a/include/nuttx/semaphore.h b/include/nuttx/semaphore.h
index 3ecd34e3e3..1c28dc9410 100644
--- a/include/nuttx/semaphore.h
+++ b/include/nuttx/semaphore.h
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ extern "C"
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-int nxsem_init(FAR sem_t *sem, int pshared, uint32_t value);
+int nxsem_init(FAR sem_t *sem, int pshared, int32_t value);
 
 /****************************************************************************
  * Name: nxsem_destroy
diff --git a/libs/libc/semaphore/sem_init.c b/libs/libc/semaphore/sem_init.c
index b37d3a9be5..be0cba9fde 100644
--- a/libs/libc/semaphore/sem_init.c
+++ b/libs/libc/semaphore/sem_init.c
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-int nxsem_init(FAR sem_t *sem, int pshared, uint32_t value)
+int nxsem_init(FAR sem_t *sem, int pshared, int32_t value)
 {
   UNUSED(pshared);