diff --git a/ip/iprule.c b/ip/iprule.c
index 967969c0..986a5bcb 100644
--- a/ip/iprule.c
+++ b/ip/iprule.c
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ static int iprule_modify(int cmd, int argc, char **argv)
 		req.r.rtm_table = RT_TABLE_MAIN;
 
 	if (rtnl_talk(&rth, &req.n, 0, 0, NULL) < 0)
-		return 2;
+		return -2;
 
 	return 0;
 }