diff --git a/src/arch/xtensa/drivers/timer.c b/src/arch/xtensa/drivers/timer.c
index f242a6023c51..2c4ece4a34c3 100644
--- a/src/arch/xtensa/drivers/timer.c
+++ b/src/arch/xtensa/drivers/timer.c
@@ -133,5 +133,5 @@ int64_t arch_timer_set(struct timer *timer, uint64_t ticks)
 	xthal_set_ccompare(timer->id, time);
 
 	arch_interrupt_global_enable(flags);
-	return 0;
+	return ticks;
 }
diff --git a/src/drivers/intel/baytrail/timer.c b/src/drivers/intel/baytrail/timer.c
index f6738e0a45cd..66de04f96a3c 100644
--- a/src/drivers/intel/baytrail/timer.c
+++ b/src/drivers/intel/baytrail/timer.c
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ int64_t platform_timer_set(struct timer *timer, uint64_t ticks)
 
 	arch_interrupt_global_enable(flags);
 
-	return 0;
+	return ticks;
 }
 
 void platform_timer_clear(struct timer *timer)