diff --git a/drivers/leds/leds-pca9532.c b/drivers/leds/leds-pca9532.c
index b2e081c8f139..1133fa348e24 100644
--- a/drivers/leds/leds-pca9532.c
+++ b/drivers/leds/leds-pca9532.c
@@ -298,12 +298,15 @@ static enum pca9532_state pca9532_getled(struct pca9532_led *led)
 	struct i2c_client *client = led->client;
 	struct pca9532_data *data = i2c_get_clientdata(client);
 	u8 maxleds = data->chip_info->num_leds;
-	char reg;
-	enum pca9532_state ret;
+	int reg;
+	enum pca9532_state ret = PCA9532_OFF;
 
 	mutex_lock(&data->update_lock);
 	reg = i2c_smbus_read_byte_data(client, LED_REG(maxleds, led->id));
-	ret = (reg & LED_MASK(led->id)) >> LED_SHIFT(led->id);
+	if (reg >= 0)
+		ret = (reg & LED_MASK(led->id)) >> LED_SHIFT(led->id);
+	else
+		dev_warn(&client->dev, "failed to read LED register: %d\n", reg);
 	mutex_unlock(&data->update_lock);
 	return ret;
 }