diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/timers/clocksource-switch.c b/tools/testing/selftests/timers/clocksource-switch.c
index bfc974b4572d55..c18313a5f357bf 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/timers/clocksource-switch.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/timers/clocksource-switch.c
@@ -110,10 +110,10 @@ int run_tests(int secs)
 
 	sprintf(buf, "./inconsistency-check -t %i", secs);
 	ret = system(buf);
-	if (ret)
-		return ret;
+	if (WIFEXITED(ret) && WEXITSTATUS(ret))
+		return WEXITSTATUS(ret);
 	ret = system("./nanosleep");
-	return ret;
+	return WIFEXITED(ret) ? WEXITSTATUS(ret) : 0;
 }