diff --git a/src/runtime/netpoll_windows.go b/src/runtime/netpoll_windows.go
index 79dafb02796..134071f5e3c 100644
--- a/src/runtime/netpoll_windows.go
+++ b/src/runtime/netpoll_windows.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func netpolldescriptor() uintptr {
 
 func netpollopen(fd uintptr, pd *pollDesc) int32 {
 	if stdcall4(_CreateIoCompletionPort, fd, iocphandle, 0, 0) == 0 {
-		return -int32(getlasterror())
+		return int32(getlasterror())
 	}
 	return 0
 }