diff --git a/src/hidpp10.c b/src/hidpp10.c
index 6e995c31..5780317c 100644
--- a/src/hidpp10.c
+++ b/src/hidpp10.c
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ static int hidpp10_write_command(struct ratbag_device *device, __u8 *cmd, int si
 		return 0;
 
 	if (res < 0)
-		log_error(device->ratbag, "Error: %d\n", errno);
+		log_error(device->ratbag, "Error: %d\n", -res);
 
 	return res;
 }
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ int hidpp10_request_command(struct ratbag_device *device, union hidpp10_message
 	} while (ret > 0);
 
 	if (ret < 0) {
-		log_error(ratbag, "    USB error: %d\n", errno);
+		log_error(ratbag, "    USB error: %d\n", -ret);
 		perror("write");
 		goto out_err;
 	}
diff --git a/src/hidpp20.c b/src/hidpp20.c
index 1b29bb7f..a5ec5894 100644
--- a/src/hidpp20.c
+++ b/src/hidpp20.c
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ hidpp20_write_command(struct ratbag_device *device, uint8_t *cmd, int size)
 		return 0;
 
 	if (res < 0)
-		log_error(device->ratbag, "Error: %d\n", errno);
+		log_error(device->ratbag, "Error: %d\n", -res);
 
 	return res;
 }
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ hidpp20_request_command(struct ratbag_device *device, union hidpp20_message *msg
 	} while (ret > 0);
 
 	if (ret < 0) {
-		log_error(ratbag, "    USB error: %d\n", errno);
+		log_error(ratbag, "    USB error: %d\n", -ret);
 		perror("write");
 		goto out_err;
 	}
diff --git a/src/libratbag-hidraw.c b/src/libratbag-hidraw.c
index d6f4bfc0..33b05497 100644
--- a/src/libratbag-hidraw.c
+++ b/src/libratbag-hidraw.c
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ ratbag_hidraw_output_report(struct ratbag_device *ratbag, uint8_t *buf, size_t l
 	rc = write(ratbag->hidraw_fd, buf, len);
 
 	if (rc < 0)
-		return rc;
+		return -errno;
 
 	if (rc != (int)len)
 		return -EIO;
@@ -139,8 +139,11 @@ ratbag_hidraw_output_report(struct ratbag_device *ratbag, uint8_t *buf, size_t l
 int
 ratbag_hidraw_read_input_report(struct ratbag_device *ratbag, uint8_t *buf, size_t len)
 {
+	int rc;
+
 	if (len < 1 || !buf || ratbag->hidraw_fd < 0)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	return read(ratbag->hidraw_fd, buf, len);
+	rc = read(ratbag->hidraw_fd, buf, len);
+	return rc >= 0 ? rc : -errno;
 }
diff --git a/src/libratbag-hidraw.h b/src/libratbag-hidraw.h
index 15bf5583..e6233bfc 100644
--- a/src/libratbag-hidraw.h
+++ b/src/libratbag-hidraw.h
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ int ratbag_open_hidraw(struct ratbag_device *ratbag);
  * @rtype: HID report type
  * @reqtype: HID_REQ_GET_REPORT or HID_REQ_SET_REPORT
  *
- * @return: count of data transfered, negative if error
+ * @return count of data transfered, or a negative errno on error
  *
  * Same behavior as hid_hw_request, but with raw buffers instead.
  */
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ int ratbag_hidraw_raw_request(struct ratbag_device *ratbag, unsigned char report
  * @buf: raw data to transfer
  * @len: length of buf
  *
- * @return: count of data transfered, negative if error
+ * @return count of data transfered, or a negative errno on error
  */
 int ratbag_hidraw_output_report(struct ratbag_device *ratbag, uint8_t *buf, size_t len);
 
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ int ratbag_hidraw_output_report(struct ratbag_device *ratbag, uint8_t *buf, size
  * @buf: resulting raw data
  * @len: length of buf
  *
- * @return: count of data transfered, negative if error
+ * @return count of data transfered, or a negative errno on error
  */
 int ratbag_hidraw_read_input_report(struct ratbag_device *ratbag, uint8_t *buf, size_t len);