diff --git a/cpukit/include/machine/_timecounter.h b/cpukit/include/machine/_timecounter.h
index e20e051f84..430128b5be 100644
--- a/cpukit/include/machine/_timecounter.h
+++ b/cpukit/include/machine/_timecounter.h
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 
 __BEGIN_DECLS
 extern volatile time_t _Timecounter_Time_second;
-extern volatile int32_t _Timecounter_Time_uptime;
+extern volatile time_t _Timecounter_Time_uptime;
 extern struct bintime _Timecounter_Boottimebin;
 
 void   _Timecounter_Binuptime(struct bintime *);
diff --git a/cpukit/include/rtems/score/timecounter.h b/cpukit/include/rtems/score/timecounter.h
index 79fc3707c3..edb4fa1e28 100644
--- a/cpukit/include/rtems/score/timecounter.h
+++ b/cpukit/include/rtems/score/timecounter.h
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ extern volatile time_t _Timecounter_Time_second;
  * For compatibility with the FreeBSD network stack the initial value is one
  * second.
  */
-extern volatile int32_t _Timecounter_Time_uptime;
+extern volatile time_t _Timecounter_Time_uptime;
 
 /**
  * @brief The current timecounter.
diff --git a/cpukit/score/src/kern_tc.c b/cpukit/score/src/kern_tc.c
index a6985b0691..8b077f59fd 100644
--- a/cpukit/score/src/kern_tc.c
+++ b/cpukit/score/src/kern_tc.c
@@ -282,11 +282,10 @@ struct timecounter *timecounter = &dummy_timecounter;
 
 #ifndef __rtems__
 volatile time_t time_second = 1;
-volatile time_t time_uptime = 1;
 #else /* __rtems__ */
 volatile time_t time_second = TOD_SECONDS_1970_THROUGH_1988;
-volatile int32_t time_uptime = 1;
 #endif /* __rtems__ */
+volatile time_t time_uptime = 1;
 
 #ifndef __rtems__
 /*