diff --git a/sys/kern/kern_synch.c b/sys/kern/kern_synch.c
index 84b1c61e70e..fb9c9bfcf5c 100644
--- a/sys/kern/kern_synch.c
+++ b/sys/kern/kern_synch.c
@@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ int
 should_yield(void)
 {
 
-	return (ticks - curthread->td_swvoltick >= hogticks);
+	return ((unsigned int)(ticks - curthread->td_swvoltick) >= hogticks);
 }
 
 void