li      r4,0            /* new sp (unused) */
        li      r0,__NR_clone
        sc
-       cmpwi   0,r3,0          /* parent or child? */
-       bne     1f              /* return if parent */
+       bns+    1f              /* did system call indicate error? */
+       neg     r3,r3           /* if so, make return code negative */
+1:     cmpwi   0,r3,0          /* parent or child? */
+       bne     2f              /* return if parent */
        li      r0,0            /* make top-level stack frame */
        stwu    r0,-16(r1)
        mtlr    r30             /* fn addr in lr */
        li      r0,__NR_exit    /* exit if function returns */
        li      r3,0
        sc
-1:     lwz     r30,8(r1)
+2:     lwz     r30,8(r1)
        lwz     r31,12(r1)
        addi    r1,r1,16
        blr
 
        li      r4,0            /* new sp (unused) */
        li      r0,__NR_clone
        sc
-       cmpdi   0,r3,0          /* parent or child? */
-       bne     1f              /* return if parent */
+       bns+    1f              /* did system call indicate error? */
+       neg     r3,r3           /* if so, make return code negative */
+1:     cmpdi   0,r3,0          /* parent or child? */
+       bne     2f              /* return if parent */
        li      r0,0
        stdu    r0,-STACK_FRAME_OVERHEAD(r1)
        ld      r2,8(r29)
        li      r0,__NR_exit    /* exit after child exits */
         li     r3,0
        sc
-1:     addi    r1,r1,STACK_FRAME_OVERHEAD      
+2:     addi    r1,r1,STACK_FRAME_OVERHEAD
        ld      r29,-24(r1)
        ld      r30,-16(r1)
        blr