diff --git a/newlib/libc/include/sys/config.h b/newlib/libc/include/sys/config.h
index 4c9acc55c..0ee9e672d 100644
--- a/newlib/libc/include/sys/config.h
+++ b/newlib/libc/include/sys/config.h
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@
 #define __DYNAMIC_REENT__
 #endif
 
+#ifdef __nvptx__
+#define _READ_WRITE_RETURN_TYPE _ssize_t
+#endif
+
 /* exceptions first */
 #if defined(__H8500__) || defined(__W65__)
 #define __SMALL_BITFIELDS