diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/include/nvkm/subdev/therm.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/include/nvkm/subdev/therm.h
index 62c34f98c930..bfe9779216fc 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/include/nvkm/subdev/therm.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/include/nvkm/subdev/therm.h
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ struct nvkm_therm {
 	bool clkgating_enabled;
 };
 
-int nvkm_therm_temp_get(struct nvkm_therm *);
+int nvkm_therm_temp_get(struct nvkm_therm *therm, int *temp);
 int nvkm_therm_fan_sense(struct nvkm_therm *);
 int nvkm_therm_cstate(struct nvkm_therm *, int, int);
 void nvkm_therm_clkgate_init(struct nvkm_therm *,
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nouveau_hwmon.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nouveau_hwmon.c
index 1c3104d20571..aff6aa296678 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nouveau_hwmon.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nouveau_hwmon.c
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ nouveau_temp_is_visible(const void *data, u32 attr, int channel)
 	struct nouveau_drm *drm = nouveau_drm((struct drm_device *)data);
 	struct nvkm_therm *therm = nvxx_therm(&drm->client.device);
 
-	if (!therm || !therm->attr_get || nvkm_therm_temp_get(therm) < 0)
+	if (!therm || !therm->attr_get || nvkm_therm_temp_get(therm, NULL) < 0)
 		return 0;
 
 	switch (attr) {
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ nouveau_temp_read(struct device *dev, u32 attr, int channel, long *val)
 	struct drm_device *drm_dev = dev_get_drvdata(dev);
 	struct nouveau_drm *drm = nouveau_drm(drm_dev);
 	struct nvkm_therm *therm = nvxx_therm(&drm->client.device);
-	int ret;
+	int ret = 0, temp;
 
 	if (!therm || !therm->attr_get)
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
@@ -428,8 +428,8 @@ nouveau_temp_read(struct device *dev, u32 attr, int channel, long *val)
 	case hwmon_temp_input:
 		if (drm_dev->switch_power_state != DRM_SWITCH_POWER_ON)
 			return -EINVAL;
-		ret = nvkm_therm_temp_get(therm);
-		*val = ret < 0 ? ret : (ret * 1000);
+		ret = nvkm_therm_temp_get(therm, &temp);
+		*val = temp * 1000;
 		break;
 	case hwmon_temp_max:
 		*val = therm->attr_get(therm, NVKM_THERM_ATTR_THRS_DOWN_CLK)
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ nouveau_temp_read(struct device *dev, u32 attr, int channel, long *val)
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
 	}
 
-	return 0;
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static int
@@ -735,7 +735,7 @@ nouveau_hwmon_init(struct drm_device *dev)
 	hwmon->dev = dev;
 
 	if (therm && therm->attr_get && therm->attr_set) {
-		if (nvkm_therm_temp_get(therm) >= 0)
+		if (nvkm_therm_temp_get(therm, NULL) >= 0)
 			special_groups[i++] = &temp1_auto_point_sensor_group;
 		if (therm->fan_get && therm->fan_get(therm) >= 0)
 			special_groups[i++] = &pwm_fan_sensor_group;
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/base.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/base.c
index 4a4d1e224126..e7ffea1512e6 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/base.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/base.c
@@ -27,10 +27,15 @@
 #include <subdev/pmu.h>
 
 int
-nvkm_therm_temp_get(struct nvkm_therm *therm)
+nvkm_therm_temp_get(struct nvkm_therm *therm, int *temp)
 {
+	int ignored_reading;
+
+	if (temp == NULL)
+		temp = &ignored_reading;
+
 	if (therm->func->temp_get)
-		return therm->func->temp_get(therm);
+		return therm->func->temp_get(therm, temp);
 	return -ENODEV;
 }
 
@@ -40,9 +45,11 @@ nvkm_therm_update_trip(struct nvkm_therm *therm)
 	struct nvbios_therm_trip_point *trip = therm->fan->bios.trip,
 				       *cur_trip = NULL,
 				       *last_trip = therm->last_trip;
-	u8  temp = therm->func->temp_get(therm);
+	int temp;
 	u16 duty, i;
 
+	WARN_ON(nvkm_therm_temp_get(therm, &temp) < 0);
+
 	/* look for the trip point corresponding to the current temperature */
 	cur_trip = NULL;
 	for (i = 0; i < therm->fan->bios.nr_fan_trip; i++) {
@@ -70,9 +77,11 @@ static int
 nvkm_therm_compute_linear_duty(struct nvkm_therm *therm, u8 linear_min_temp,
                                u8 linear_max_temp)
 {
-	u8  temp = therm->func->temp_get(therm);
+	int temp;
 	u16 duty;
 
+	WARN_ON(nvkm_therm_temp_get(therm, &temp) < 0);
+
 	/* handle the non-linear part first */
 	if (temp < linear_min_temp)
 		return therm->fan->bios.min_duty;
@@ -200,7 +209,7 @@ nvkm_therm_fan_mode(struct nvkm_therm *therm, int mode)
 	/* do not allow automatic fan management if the thermal sensor is
 	 * not available */
 	if (mode == NVKM_THERM_CTRL_AUTO &&
-	    therm->func->temp_get(therm) < 0)
+	    nvkm_therm_temp_get(therm, NULL) < 0)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	if (therm->mode == mode)
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/g84.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/g84.c
index 96f8da40ac82..e2f891d5c7ba 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/g84.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/g84.c
@@ -27,14 +27,15 @@
 #include <subdev/fuse.h>
 
 int
-g84_temp_get(struct nvkm_therm *therm)
+g84_temp_get(struct nvkm_therm *therm, int *temp)
 {
 	struct nvkm_device *device = therm->subdev.device;
 
-	if (nvkm_fuse_read(device->fuse, 0x1a8) == 1)
-		return nvkm_rd32(device, 0x20400);
-	else
+	if (nvkm_fuse_read(device->fuse, 0x1a8) != 1)
 		return -ENODEV;
+
+	*temp = nvkm_rd32(device, 0x20400);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 void
@@ -115,7 +116,7 @@ g84_therm_threshold_hyst_emulation(struct nvkm_therm *therm,
 	}
 
 	/* fix the state (in case someone reprogrammed the alarms) */
-	cur = therm->func->temp_get(therm);
+	WARN_ON(nvkm_therm_temp_get(therm, &cur) < 0);
 	if (new_state == NVKM_THERM_THRS_LOWER && cur > thrs->temp)
 		new_state = NVKM_THERM_THRS_HIGHER;
 	else if (new_state == NVKM_THERM_THRS_HIGHER &&
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/gp100.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/gp100.c
index 9f0dea3f61dc..4c32e4f21bec 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/gp100.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/gp100.c
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 #include "priv.h"
 
 static int
-gp100_temp_get(struct nvkm_therm *therm)
+gp100_temp_get(struct nvkm_therm *therm, int *temp)
 {
 	struct nvkm_device *device = therm->subdev.device;
 	struct nvkm_subdev *subdev = &therm->subdev;
@@ -35,11 +35,12 @@ gp100_temp_get(struct nvkm_therm *therm)
 	if (tsensor & 0x40000000)
 		nvkm_trace(subdev, "reading temperature from SHADOWed sensor\n");
 
-	/* device valid */
-	if (tsensor & 0x20000000)
-		return (inttemp >> 8);
-	else
+	/* device invalid */
+	if (!(tsensor & 0x20000000))
 		return -ENODEV;
+
+	*temp = inttemp >> 8;
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static const struct nvkm_therm_func
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/nv40.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/nv40.c
index 2c92ffb5f9d0..9753ad4bee4a 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/nv40.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/nv40.c
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ nv40_sensor_setup(struct nvkm_therm *therm)
 }
 
 static int
-nv40_temp_get(struct nvkm_therm *therm)
+nv40_temp_get(struct nvkm_therm *therm, int *temp)
 {
 	struct nvkm_device *device = therm->subdev.device;
 	struct nvbios_therm_sensor *sensor = &therm->bios_sensor;
@@ -95,11 +95,8 @@ nv40_temp_get(struct nvkm_therm *therm)
 	core_temp = core_temp + sensor->offset_num / sensor->offset_den;
 	core_temp = core_temp + sensor->offset_constant - 8;
 
-	/* reserve negative temperatures for errors */
-	if (core_temp < 0)
-		core_temp = 0;
-
-	return core_temp;
+	*temp = core_temp;
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static int
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/nv50.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/nv50.c
index 9b57b433d4cf..38fa6777c129 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/nv50.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/nv50.c
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ nv50_sensor_setup(struct nvkm_therm *therm)
 }
 
 static int
-nv50_temp_get(struct nvkm_therm *therm)
+nv50_temp_get(struct nvkm_therm *therm, int *temp)
 {
 	struct nvkm_device *device = therm->subdev.device;
 	struct nvbios_therm_sensor *sensor = &therm->bios_sensor;
@@ -143,11 +143,8 @@ nv50_temp_get(struct nvkm_therm *therm)
 	core_temp = core_temp + sensor->offset_num / sensor->offset_den;
 	core_temp = core_temp + sensor->offset_constant - 8;
 
-	/* reserve negative temperatures for errors */
-	if (core_temp < 0)
-		core_temp = 0;
-
-	return core_temp;
+	*temp = core_temp;
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/priv.h b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/priv.h
index 21659daf1864..04607d8b1755 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/priv.h
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/priv.h
@@ -91,7 +91,15 @@ struct nvkm_therm_func {
 	int (*pwm_set)(struct nvkm_therm *, int line, u32, u32);
 	int (*pwm_clock)(struct nvkm_therm *, int line);
 
-	int (*temp_get)(struct nvkm_therm *);
+	/**
+	 * @temp_get: Get the temperature reading from a thermal device
+	 *
+	 * @therm: The thermal device instance.
+	 * @temp: A pointer to write the temperature reading to.
+	 *
+	 * Returns: Zero on success, or a negative error code on failure.
+	 */
+	int (*temp_get)(struct nvkm_therm *therm, int *temp);
 
 	int (*fan_sense)(struct nvkm_therm *);
 
@@ -110,7 +118,12 @@ int  nv50_fan_pwm_get(struct nvkm_therm *, int, u32 *, u32 *);
 int  nv50_fan_pwm_set(struct nvkm_therm *, int, u32, u32);
 int  nv50_fan_pwm_clock(struct nvkm_therm *, int);
 
-int  g84_temp_get(struct nvkm_therm *);
+/**
+ * g84_temp_get() - An implementation of the &struct nvkm_therm_func temp_get()
+ * @therm: The thermal device instance.
+ * @temp: A pointer to write the temperature reading to.
+ */
+int  g84_temp_get(struct nvkm_therm *therm, int *temp);
 void g84_sensor_setup(struct nvkm_therm *);
 void g84_therm_fini(struct nvkm_therm *);
 
diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/temp.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/temp.c
index ddb2b2c600ca..1e8803901abc 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/temp.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nvkm/subdev/therm/temp.c
@@ -86,7 +86,9 @@ nvkm_therm_sensor_event(struct nvkm_therm *therm, enum nvkm_therm_thrs thrs,
 	static const char * const thresholds[] = {
 		"fanboost", "downclock", "critical", "shutdown"
 	};
-	int temperature = therm->func->temp_get(therm);
+	int temperature;
+
+	WARN_ON(nvkm_therm_temp_get(therm, &temperature) < 0);
 
 	if (thrs < 0 || thrs > 3)
 		return;
@@ -140,7 +142,9 @@ nvkm_therm_threshold_hyst_polling(struct nvkm_therm *therm,
 {
 	enum nvkm_therm_thrs_direction direction;
 	enum nvkm_therm_thrs_state prev_state, new_state;
-	int temp = therm->func->temp_get(therm);
+	int temp;
+
+	WARN_ON(nvkm_therm_temp_get(therm, &temp) < 0);
 
 	prev_state = nvkm_therm_sensor_get_threshold_state(therm, thrs_name);
 
@@ -185,7 +189,7 @@ alarm_timer_callback(struct nvkm_alarm *alarm)
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&therm->sensor.alarm_program_lock, flags);
 
 	/* schedule the next poll in one second */
-	if (therm->func->temp_get(therm) >= 0)
+	if (nvkm_therm_temp_get(therm, NULL) >= 0)
 		nvkm_timer_alarm(tmr, 1000000000ULL, alarm);
 }
 
@@ -229,7 +233,7 @@ nvkm_therm_sensor_preinit(struct nvkm_therm *therm)
 {
 	const char *sensor_avail = "yes";
 
-	if (therm->func->temp_get(therm) < 0)
+	if (nvkm_therm_temp_get(therm, NULL) < 0)
 		sensor_avail = "no";
 
 	nvkm_debug(&therm->subdev, "internal sensor: %s\n", sensor_avail);
