diff --git a/mac80211.c b/mac80211.c
index 3830455c..d7aad013 100644
--- a/mac80211.c
+++ b/mac80211.c
@@ -564,7 +564,9 @@ mt76_check_sta(struct mt76_dev *dev, struct sk_buff *skb)
 
 	sta = container_of((void *) wcid, struct ieee80211_sta, drv_priv);
 
-	ewma_signal_add(&wcid->rssi, status->signal);
+	if (status->signal <= 0)
+		ewma_signal_add(&wcid->rssi, -status->signal);
+
 	wcid->inactive_count = 0;
 
 	if (!test_bit(MT_WCID_FLAG_CHECK_PS, &wcid->flags))
diff --git a/util.c b/util.c
index 6242421c..69270c1a 100644
--- a/util.c
+++ b/util.c
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ int mt76_get_min_avg_rssi(struct mt76_dev *dev)
 
 			spin_lock(&dev->rx_lock);
 			if (wcid->inactive_count++ < 5)
-				cur_rssi = ewma_signal_read(&wcid->rssi);
+				cur_rssi = -ewma_signal_read(&wcid->rssi);
 			else
 				cur_rssi = 0;
 			spin_unlock(&dev->rx_lock);