diff --git a/drivers/iio/proximity/vl53l0x-i2c.c b/drivers/iio/proximity/vl53l0x-i2c.c
index 661a79ea200d..a284b20529fb 100644
--- a/drivers/iio/proximity/vl53l0x-i2c.c
+++ b/drivers/iio/proximity/vl53l0x-i2c.c
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ static int vl53l0x_read_proximity(struct vl53l0x_data *data,
 	u16 tries = 20;
 	u8 buffer[12];
 	int ret;
+	unsigned long time_left;
 
 	ret = i2c_smbus_write_byte_data(client, VL_REG_SYSRANGE_START, 1);
 	if (ret < 0)
@@ -112,10 +113,8 @@ static int vl53l0x_read_proximity(struct vl53l0x_data *data,
 	if (data->client->irq) {
 		reinit_completion(&data->completion);
 
-		ret = wait_for_completion_timeout(&data->completion, HZ/10);
-		if (ret < 0)
-			return ret;
-		else if (ret == 0)
+		time_left = wait_for_completion_timeout(&data->completion, HZ/10);
+		if (time_left == 0)
 			return -ETIMEDOUT;
 
 		vl53l0x_clear_irq(data);