diff --git a/programs/ssl/ssl_client2.c b/programs/ssl/ssl_client2.c
index c9e3864e28..1cd2f73754 100644
--- a/programs/ssl/ssl_client2.c
+++ b/programs/ssl/ssl_client2.c
@@ -1879,8 +1879,8 @@ int main( int argc, char *argv[] )
 
         if( ret != 0 )
         {
-            mbedtls_printf( " failed\n  ! mbedtls_ssl_conf_cid_len returned %d\n\n",
-                            ret );
+            mbedtls_printf( " failed\n  ! mbedtls_ssl_conf_cid_len returned -%#04x\n\n",
+                            -ret );
             goto exit;
         }
     }
diff --git a/programs/ssl/ssl_server2.c b/programs/ssl/ssl_server2.c
index aa7290bf8d..178009a845 100644
--- a/programs/ssl/ssl_server2.c
+++ b/programs/ssl/ssl_server2.c
@@ -2735,8 +2735,8 @@ int main( int argc, char *argv[] )
 
         if( ret != 0 )
         {
-            mbedtls_printf( " failed\n  ! mbedtls_ssl_conf_cid_len returned %d\n\n",
-                            ret );
+            mbedtls_printf( " failed\n  ! mbedtls_ssl_conf_cid_len returned -%#04x\n\n",
+                            -ret );
             goto exit;
         }
     }