diff --git a/usr.bin/make/compat.c b/usr.bin/make/compat.c
index affbf09ec04d..903af00c2f4f 100644
--- a/usr.bin/make/compat.c
+++ b/usr.bin/make/compat.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	$NetBSD: compat.c,v 1.241 2022/08/17 20:10:29 rillig Exp $	*/
+/*	$NetBSD: compat.c,v 1.242 2022/10/10 21:17:25 rillig Exp $	*/
 
 /*
  * Copyright (c) 1988, 1989, 1990 The Regents of the University of California.
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@
 #include "pathnames.h"
 
 /*	"@(#)compat.c	8.2 (Berkeley) 3/19/94"	*/
-MAKE_RCSID("$NetBSD: compat.c,v 1.241 2022/08/17 20:10:29 rillig Exp $");
+MAKE_RCSID("$NetBSD: compat.c,v 1.242 2022/10/10 21:17:25 rillig Exp $");
 
 static GNode *curTarg = NULL;
 static pid_t compatChild;
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ CompatDeleteTarget(GNode *gn)
 	if (gn != NULL && !GNode_IsPrecious(gn)) {
 		const char *file = GNode_VarTarget(gn);
 
-		if (!opts.noExecute && unlink_file(file)) {
+		if (!opts.noExecute && unlink_file(file) == 0) {
 			Error("*** %s removed", file);
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/usr.bin/make/job.c b/usr.bin/make/job.c
index f69627797244..81aad32326f2 100644
--- a/usr.bin/make/job.c
+++ b/usr.bin/make/job.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	$NetBSD: job.c,v 1.455 2022/09/03 08:41:07 rillig Exp $	*/
+/*	$NetBSD: job.c,v 1.456 2022/10/10 21:17:25 rillig Exp $	*/
 
 /*
  * Copyright (c) 1988, 1989, 1990 The Regents of the University of California.
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@
 #include "trace.h"
 
 /*	"@(#)job.c	8.2 (Berkeley) 3/19/94"	*/
-MAKE_RCSID("$NetBSD: job.c,v 1.455 2022/09/03 08:41:07 rillig Exp $");
+MAKE_RCSID("$NetBSD: job.c,v 1.456 2022/10/10 21:17:25 rillig Exp $");
 
 /*
  * A shell defines how the commands are run.  All commands for a target are
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ JobDeleteTarget(GNode *gn)
 		return;
 
 	file = GNode_Path(gn);
-	if (unlink_file(file))
+	if (unlink_file(file) == 0)
 		Error("*** %s removed", file);
 }
 
diff --git a/usr.bin/make/main.c b/usr.bin/make/main.c
index 30bdee647220..cebe3cf814d7 100644
--- a/usr.bin/make/main.c
+++ b/usr.bin/make/main.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	$NetBSD: main.c,v 1.584 2022/10/10 17:33:35 rillig Exp $	*/
+/*	$NetBSD: main.c,v 1.585 2022/10/10 21:17:25 rillig Exp $	*/
 
 /*
  * Copyright (c) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@
 #include "trace.h"
 
 /*	"@(#)main.c	8.3 (Berkeley) 3/19/94"	*/
-MAKE_RCSID("$NetBSD: main.c,v 1.584 2022/10/10 17:33:35 rillig Exp $");
+MAKE_RCSID("$NetBSD: main.c,v 1.585 2022/10/10 21:17:25 rillig Exp $");
 #if defined(MAKE_NATIVE) && !defined(lint)
 __COPYRIGHT("@(#) Copyright (c) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993 "
 	    "The Regents of the University of California.  "
@@ -1881,13 +1881,13 @@ Finish(int errs)
 	Fatal("%d error%s", errs, errs == 1 ? "" : "s");
 }
 
-bool
+int
 unlink_file(const char *file)
 {
 	struct stat st;
 
 	if (lstat(file, &st) == -1)
-		return false;
+		return -1;
 
 	if (S_ISDIR(st.st_mode)) {
 		/*
@@ -1895,9 +1895,9 @@ unlink_file(const char *file)
 		 * a directory unless [...]".
 		 */
 		errno = EISDIR;
-		return false;
+		return -1;
 	}
-	return unlink(file) == 0;
+	return unlink(file);
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/usr.bin/make/make.h b/usr.bin/make/make.h
index e8b329d718bd..dbf59ce1a6cd 100644
--- a/usr.bin/make/make.h
+++ b/usr.bin/make/make.h
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*	$NetBSD: make.h,v 1.307 2022/09/24 16:13:48 rillig Exp $	*/
+/*	$NetBSD: make.h,v 1.308 2022/10/10 21:17:25 rillig Exp $	*/
 
 /*
  * Copyright (c) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993
@@ -842,7 +842,7 @@ void Fatal(const char *, ...) MAKE_ATTR_PRINTFLIKE(1, 2) MAKE_ATTR_DEAD;
 void Punt(const char *, ...) MAKE_ATTR_PRINTFLIKE(1, 2) MAKE_ATTR_DEAD;
 void DieHorribly(void) MAKE_ATTR_DEAD;
 void Finish(int) MAKE_ATTR_DEAD;
-bool unlink_file(const char *) MAKE_ATTR_USE;
+int unlink_file(const char *) MAKE_ATTR_USE;
 void execDie(const char *, const char *);
 char *getTmpdir(void) MAKE_ATTR_USE;
 bool ParseBoolean(const char *, bool) MAKE_ATTR_USE;