diff --git a/include/linux/pipe_fs_i.h b/include/linux/pipe_fs_i.h
index 3cc4f8eab853..1f013ed7577e 100644
--- a/include/linux/pipe_fs_i.h
+++ b/include/linux/pipe_fs_i.h
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ static inline bool pipe_empty(unsigned int head, unsigned int tail)
  */
 static inline unsigned int pipe_occupancy(unsigned int head, unsigned int tail)
 {
-	return head - tail;
+	return (pipe_index_t)(head - tail);
 }
 
 /**