diff --git a/core/include/sched.h b/core/include/sched.h
index 49b4c35eef05..f7384236ffcf 100644
--- a/core/include/sched.h
+++ b/core/include/sched.h
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ typedef enum {
  */
 #define STATUS_ON_RUNQUEUE      STATUS_RUNNING  /**< to check if on run queue:
                                                    `st >= STATUS_ON_RUNQUEUE`   */
-#define STATUS_NOT_FOUND ((thread_status_t)-1)  /**< Describes an illegal thread status */
+#define STATUS_NOT_FOUND ((thread_status_t)~0)  /**< Describes an illegal thread status */
 /** @} */
 /**
  * @def SCHED_PRIO_LEVELS